ACT ONE.  CHAPTER I:
UNDERWATER CRYPTS

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
2016, JANUARY 26.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when Sade passed the porch of her New York apartment.

It was already dark outside and the few remaining people in the streets were hastening back to their homes. Her honeyed eyes scanned the front room with attrition before settling on the picture frame that hung on an adjacent wall. The snowflakes, lulled by the slow flow of the wind, gently landed on the windows of the surrounding buildings, imparting an ethereal atmosphere to this late January. She had been living in the heart of Manhattan for two months already, leaving the festive atmosphere of her Yale dormitory for the monotony of her current penthouse. Perhaps she was exaggerating when she spoke of monotony, but the only real conversations she had were with her old neighbour and her cat.

As usual, she threw her bag near the sideboard that stood by the entrance, before sprawling nonchalantly on her sofa. The action that had been repeated so many times caused the TV to be switched on to the news.

"Thank you, AI."

"At your service princess."

Sade frowned slightly.

"I didn't program you to follow protocol." she huffed, rolling her eyes.

The artificial intelligence did not respond to her remark, making her roll her eyes again. In addition to the photos she had brought back with her, a few objects made her feel as if she had never left the house. The artificial intelligence prototype she had been working on with Shuri somehow took her on a journey through her laboratory, which was in constant turmoil. The untidiness, which she disliked but deliberately ignored, reminded her of the chaos that was T'Challa's room. The smell of incense reminded her of her mother, and as for her father, just being outside of Wakanda was a vivid reminder.

If there was one thing, she didn't miss about Wakanda, it was the protocol. Spending her day calculating her every move to apparently avoid a "scandal", being constantly surrounded by guards―she was suffocating there. And that's why Sade had accepted the mission her father had given her. An elitist group of businessmen had decided to use the seas and oceans as their new playground for their already suspicious business. The only interest King T'Chaka had was in the supposed trafficking of vibranium hidden in their disproportionately large ships. The ocean was the least of his worries, as was the rest of the world.

The young woman was vehemently opposed to their policy of non-intervention, believing that Wakandan technology could make a huge difference to the outside world. And this, was the source of the greatest disagreement (among others) that constantly opposed them. Sade could understand her father's unwillingness to share the technology that allowed Wakanda to protect itself from potential enemies, but his constant refusal to help those in need irritated her to no end. She may love her father, but his well-concealed hypocrisy had driven a wedge between them that grew wider every time they reunited.

With the TV playing in the background, the quiet of the penthouse began to give way to the darkness of sleep when the shrill sound of a ringtone rang out. Groaning slightly, Sade fumbled on the coffee table in front of her for her phone.

"Drowsy already Princess?" asked the scratchy voice on the other end of the line.

Carter Roe. They had known each other for barely a month, meeting in a haphazard manner at a social event they were both attending, and he since kept reaching out to her. The businessman, unaware that he was only a pawn in her mission, spent his time inviting her to the social events he had to attend. Holding her breath once more, the young woman took the most enthusiastic voice she could muster before answering her interlocutor.

"Carter! How nice to hear your voice!"

Sade grimaced at her response. She lied so naturally that it often surprised her, somehow making her second guess her own words.

"I missed you too Princess. I was calling to see if you'd like to come with me-" he continued in the honeyed tone that constantly made her want to vomit.

He had charm, she could not deny it. But the only effect he had on her was to constantly want to rip out his tongue so that he couldn't convey his train of thought. The honeyed tone of his voice was a trap of its own, a trap that had the appearance of Pandora's box. Curiosity and temptation urged you to open it, to find out who was hiding behind the mask of an entire group of people. But once the box is opened, once the mask has fallen, curiosity and temptation leave you halfway through, transforming in turn, and giving way to regret and dread.

"I'm pretty tired and-"

"You can meet some of my colleagues! You could even discuss those prototypes you were telling me about last time." he insisted, hoping to pique her curiosity.

"Who?"

"Um, people like Rick Hamilton, Andrew Stone..."

He let a silence linger, thinking that Sade would be interested in the possible conversation she could have with them. However, this prompted the young woman to frantically search in her bag for the file she had been working on.

"Rick Hamilton and Andrew Stone, as in Hamilton & Stone? The owners of the cargo company?" she asked suddenly, holding the photos of the two men in her hands.

Here they were. The two missing pieces of the puzzle that she has been completing for the past two months. The brains behind this smuggling case. Because although he looked smart, Carter was just that, a storefront of false pretences. He was young and heir to a substantial fortune, looking to take a bite out of life and constantly trying to increase his financial wealth. An easy prey for two entrepreneurs who were on the verge of bankruptcy.

Carter didn't answer immediately, seeming to think about what he was going to say, probably wanting to avoid revealing anything about his sidekicks.

"They're much better known for other things, like engineering," he laughed nervously.

He smelt anxiety from five miles away.

Sade finally told him she'd be ready in about ten minutes, dialling the number of Raïssa Salah, the CIA agent who was unofficially following the same case she was. Or should she say, the CIA agent who was spying on her, thinking she was doing it unnoticed.

"Imani? Do you know what time it is-"

Ah yes, Imani. Her first name. Or middle name.

Sade sounded like the name of a shadow that would soon take over, the shadow of a mere vassal who would soon overthrow their lord, the shadow of a moon that would come to conceal the radiant light of the sun.

Honour bestows the crown.

The name of a potential usurper. The name of a potential queen.

Sade did not want the throne; Imani preferred the shadow. But despite Imani's preference, Sade will never be able to escape her destiny, except maybe with the help of anti-time-consuming stratagems.

"I have your people. Well, more like mine, but you know what I mean."

"Not really, no."

"Anyway, Carter's picking me up in about ten minutes for a gala event where the trio will be together for the first time in two months. I'll take two mics with me, and not the ones you provided because I don't trust your junk organisation-"

"The CIA is not a junk organisation, we-"

The young woman rolled her eyes as she closed the buckle on her heels.

"Yes, blah blah blah. Stop cutting me off. I'll give you the debrief tomorrow in addition to the audio recordings. Hopefully we'll hold them this time."

Sade had no intention of telling her everything she was going to learn. From tonight on, she would be a free rider―she had collaborated with the enemy long enough.

"Watch yourself." the spy finally said, making her smile slightly as she tucked her knives into the garter hidden by the flap of her water green dress.

"Aw, you love me too much-"

"I just don't feel like having a whole country on my back."

"Liar."

Raïssa didn't answer and simply cut the call, action that made her scoff before putting her phone away and heading for Carter outside her building.

TRIBECA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
2016, JANUARY 26.

The constant darkness that made her flat her favourite place contrasted sharply with the dozens of chandeliers that lit up the room they were in. Everything seemed to shine with a thousand lights, each spark trying in turn to pierce the eye of the greediest.

In a way, the elites were these murderous lights. Like the rays of the sun which, despite their warmth, turn out to be a poisoned gift. Like the webs of a spider, with tempting details and intoxicating patterns, hope was no more as soon as you found yourself stuck between their voracious threads.

For a while now, Sade had been more of a handbag than a guest. Carter carried her from conversation to conversation, seeming to forget the promise he had made her just before. In frustration, she eventually asked him the question that was burning her tongue.

"Carter, what about your associates?"

Her partner looked at her for a moment, eyebrow arched, a sign to which she replied with a simple innocent smile.

"Yeah, um..."

He didn't have time to finish his sentence before the said businessmen appeared beside them, an air of urgency stretching their facial features.

"Oh Rick, Andrew, we were just-"

"We don't have time for small talk, we need you to come with us quickly," spoke the owl-eyed man whom Sade identified as Rick Hamilton.

"Whatever you want to say to me, you can say it in front of Imani."

The two men in front of them stared at her with that superior air they took when they recognised her as the princess of Wakanda, a poor little landlocked African country, a nation of farmers as some dared to say. Only Bast knew that she was doing her utmost not to reveal anything, not to spit in their faces, to make them swallow that paternalistic and superior feeling they had for the nations they called "third world".

"Princess..." Andrew greeted her warily before turning abruptly to Carter. "It's about... your investment."

The word "investment" somehow caused the blond man at her side to react and let his hand slip from her waist. An unspoken agreement seemed to have been established between the three men as they walked away from her, barely giving her date time to whisper a simple "Sorry."

"Looks like Prince Charming is in trouble. You should follow him," Raïssa's voice rang out in her earpiece.

"No need." she replied quickly as she watched them converse with each other, staring at where she had placed the microphone on Carter.

Despite the rubbing of his jacket sleeves, she could hear what they were saying to each other in the greatest of secrecy.

"What's going on? You couldn't have-"

"Stop acting like a kid who just discovered love or whatever is going on between you. Your ship has been attacked." Rick Hamilton interrupted him curtly, grabbing him by the collar.

"Attacked? By whom? How-"

"We don't know. It all happened quickly, and the surveillance cameras didn't record anything."

"What about the vibranium?"

"They were able to save some, but not enough."

"What? You were supposed to make sure the security-"

"Watch your tone, kid."

Feeling that she had heard enough, Sade decided to leave the gala without warning her partner, who seemed to be in far more trouble than she realised. If the ship had not been destroyed and there was still vibranium on board, she had to get there as soon as possible.

Her eyes drifted between the entrance to the centre where the gala was being held and Carter's 1968 Cadillac Coupe Deville. Sade eventually climbed into the warmth of the car before driving off into the dark night towards her flat. She would have his car returned to him when Ayo would pick her up, even though she liked the design of the car. The idea of keeping it as payment for all the time she had to spend listening to him talk seemed particularly appealing to her.

Who could attack an entire ocean liner, kill its entire crew, without leaving a trace?

The prepaid phone she'd gotten for herself revealed Raïssa's name once again. The latter must have wondered what had hindered her from hearing the conversation of the three partners. The young woman felt bad for having to do this, because despite her miserable mood, the agent was a good person at heart. But Sade hadn't come to New York to make friends.

"Does the CIA have anything to do with this, Raïssa?"

"No. At least I'm not aware of it." As good as she was at lying, Sade lied like she breathed―the CIA knew something more about this case. The young woman anticipated hearing her ask what had been said in the recesses of the gala, but Raïssa seemed to trust that she would give her the information in due course. "I just have a question though."

"Hmm?"

"Why would Wakanda be interested in vibranium?" she finally asked her.

A simple smile stretched Sade's lips as she closed the suitcase that awaited her in her living room.

"Why would the CIA be interested in helping a rebel princess?"

"I'm not the CIA, I-"

"Come on Raïssa, be honest for once. Did you really think I was stupid?"

"Princess Imani-"

"Oh, now it's Princess Imani? Interesting."

"Listen-" Raïssa tried again, seeing that the situation was slipping out of her hands.

"I think this is where we part ways Raïssa Salah. It was a pleasure."

The young woman crushed the earpiece under her heels before exiting her flat. She'd had barely an hour to contact Ayo, send her the coordinates of Carter's liner, and prepare to leave her flat as soon as possible. Because she knew, she knew that she was under surveillance, that Raïssa, despite being a nice person, was only there to track her. This was nothing new.

Allies of circumstance make the best enemies.

SOMEWHERE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
2016, JANUARY 27.

"Are you sure you won't need me? Your parents will have my head if anything happens to you."

Looking down at the boat below, Sade finally turned her head to Ayo who raised an eyebrow in her direction.

"What's the worst thing that could happen? Drowning? I can swim." she finally replied as she unbuckled her belt, preparing to jump out the back of the ship.

"Break your arm like last time?"

"Well, I'll break a leg this time then."

Annoyed, Ayo rolled her eyes before turning to the young woman who smiled slightly.

"Okay, I'll be careful, Mom," she replied with a slight chuckle, before jumping into the void, but not without adding, "Say hi to Aneka for me!"

Sade had only one thing to do, retrieve the museum relics supposedly made of vibranium and leave the ship at once. No more and no less, her father had insisted.

The icy touch of the ocean took the smirk right off her face as Ayo's ship disappeared into the onyx sky. She stared at the sky for a moment before diving beneath the surface of the water, swimming towards Carter Roe's recently attacked ship. The texture of her suit made it possible for her to move faster, saving her some valuable time. However, a faint movement on the bottom of the water caught her attention as she placed her first suction cup on the hull of the ship. Sade had the strange sensation of being watched, and she was sure it had nothing to do with the sensors that were all over the boat.

Deciding not to pay any more attention, she began her ascent towards the unlit corner of the dock. The feeling that she was being spied on was still with her, and it was beginning to worry her about the viability of her mission.

Once on board, Sade ran to hide from the guards, who were all armed, without exception, to their teeth. She had been forbidden to use any weapon or even her powers so as not to cause any concussion that might prejudice Wakanda. But in the black boot of her suit, the faint friction of her weapon against her skin was reassuring.

The door she needed to reach was in front of her, accessible only by crossing the entire deck, exposing herself to the enemy.

Great, what am I supposed to do now?

The universe seemed to have heard her thoughts as the ship began to rock dangerously, as if an explosion had occurred nearby. It was then that she heard voices rising from the ocean, a bewitching melody, which made her want to... jump overboard?

"Sade, get a grip on yourself." rang Bast's voice in her head as she clutched the railing tightly, trying with her protector's voice alone not to give in to the call of a dozen others.

"But they sound so welcoming-"

"Sade!"

The young woman jerked as if she had received an electric shock, blinking her eyes repeatedly. The timbre of the voices was so overpoweringly calm that Bast's voice was the only thing keeping her from jumping overboard and being swept away by the arms of the ocean.

Gradually regaining control of herself, Sade wanted to glance over the edge, but the feeling of being watched began again. As she tried to turn around, a sharp blow landed on the back of her head, claiming her consciousness for the darkness of the faint. And it was one of those melodious voices she heard before her mind lost control again.

"Kaaltali' u." (Take her.)

SOMEWHERE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
2016, JANUARY 28.

The first thing Sade felt when she regained consciousness was the surrounding humidity. It was as if a wet, heavy veil had been wrapped around her skin. She had been in places where the humidity was high before, but this time it was as if the sensation was increased tenfold, as if she herself were... in water?

The heaviness of her eyelids seemed to dissipate, letting her open her eyes to contemplate her surroundings. A simple "wow" escaped the barrier of her lips as she saw the cavernous ceiling before her, illuminated by a thousand lights of glowing worms. Never before had she seen such a spectacle―never on land, anyway.

It was when Sade tried to stand up that she realised she was not alone.

Two blue-skinned women looked at her apprehensively. Both were dressed and adorned in clothes that looked very strange to her. Strange? Not really. But definitely very ancient. They were attired in the way of certain Mesoamerican civilisations, and the fineness of their jewellery was of a technique that was no longer seen. This feeling of having leapt back in time intensified when they began to speak in a language she was not familiar with.

Thinking she was hallucinating, another of the blue beings suddenly jumped out of the water, splashing her. In addition to the newcomer, a man, this time with a more normal skin, walked towards her. In the near-darkness of the cellar she could not see his face clearly. Again, the two women began to speak to him in their language, which was still foreign to her, looking at her with insistence, one even starting to raise her voice.

"Can you stop talking about me as if I'm not here?" she cut them off abruptly, drawing their eyes to her in one motion. At their stunned faces she hastened to add, "Now that I have your undivided attention, might I know what in the Avatar is going on here?"

AUTHOR'S NOTE

here's the first chapter!! hehehehe. lovers to enemies to... hum lovers? i'm so ready for this emotional ride. y'all, namor is a simp for powerful women you cannot convince me otherwise. the way he went back to talokan to simply take care of his ankle wing and paint a mural of him and suri? bye- and yesss i mentioned my ebony night (moon knight fic) mc raïssa in the book because why not since she's a cia agent.

because miss sade doesn't miss a chance to make a joke

i'm still waiting for the namor gifs to make my gif banners, so bear with this bland layout please-
&& don't forget to vote, comment and share 🫶🏾

© ADONYSIAC ― IZIA™