The Twin (The Black Land Series Book 4) Read online

  The Twin

  The Black Land Series Book 4

  By

  D. Camille

  This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, places, and incidents are products

  of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real.

  Any resemblance to actual events,

  locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is

  entirely coincidental.

  The Twin

  Copyright© 2017 D. Camille

  Sable SiStars Publishing, LLC

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without

  written permission, except in the case of brief

  quotations embodied in reviews.

  EMAIL: [email protected]

  WEBSITE: www.dcamille.com

  TWITTER: dcamille_maat

  FACEBOOK: Author D. Camille

  DEDICATION

  To those who carry the trauma

  …

  Our eyes and ears are open

  …

  Your pain is our pain

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I would like to give thanks to the Universe for provision, creativity and power.

  To the Goddess Team for keeping me focused and on track.

  To all my readers who support me and my works, I appreciate you.

  To those who work to restore broken souls, I thank you.

  Ase’

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Gemini Zodiac Sign – “The Twin”

  Air sign; ruled by Mercury.

  Cerebral, chatty, loves learning and education, charming and adventurous

  Chapter 1

  Khalil Lewis, one half of a pair of Gemini twins, shut down the computer on his lap and closed the lid. He’d just finished watching clips of Malcolm X speeches. It was his ritual to keep him focused on the work that needed to be done in his life, his community and with his people.

  Khalil and his twin Khayla, had been raised by Black Panther parents and both understood and grasped the plight of melanated people in this country and abroad. He’d dedicated his life to teaching the young warriors the truth about lives and their roles in this society.

  Khalil and Khayla had attended Hampton University where he’d received a Master’s Degree in Education. As the director of the largest community center complex in the city of Detroit, The Pride Center, his job was to make sure the citizens were served, old and young. Juggling the many programs and projects was his daily focus, in addition to the most important thing in his life…his son, Kyros.

  Standing, Khalil stretched his six-foot three frame before walking down the hall to check on his little soldier. Kyros had been conceived while Khalil was in college. After he’d first met Kyros’ mother, Melody, he’d become to believe that she was the one. However, an accidental pregnancy had shown him her true colors.

  With no thought of giving up his child or walking away from his responsibility, Khalil had promised to take his child and raise him. To this day, he’d lived up to that vow and always would. He cracked open the door and walked inside the room to stare at his son.

  Smiling, he reached down and pulled the covers around the boy. Kyros was his entire world. He was the reason he woke up every day and the driving force that dictated his life. Khalil kissed his son’s head and left the room. Walking to his own bedroom, he sat on the bed and dropped his head into his hands.

  Khalil reflected on Brother Malcolm’s words, “There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.”

  Lifting his head, he thought about the adversity that he was now about to face. Taking his phone out of his pocket, he listened to the message again…

  “Khalil, it’s Melody. I want to talk to you about our son…”

  Why was Melody calling him? And what the hell did she mean she wanted to talk about our son? Kyros had been his son since birth. Sure, Melody had seen him off and on and he knew he had a mother out there somewhere, but she was mistaken. Kyros was not their son, he was Khalil’s son.

  Pressing a button, he listened as the phone rang. When the woman’s voice came on the line, Khalil sat up.

  “Khalil…”

  “What do you want Melody?” Khalil cut to the chase. He wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries nor small talk.

  “You don’t have to be so mean,” she told him.

  “What do you want Melody?” he repeated.

  She sighed. “Did you listen to my message?”

  “I heard it.”

  “I want to talk about our son,” she said quietly.

  “Kyros,” he corrected.

  “Don’t do that Khalil,” she chastised. “He is our son. I gave birth to him.”

  Khalil rolled his eyes. “And very little else, Melody.”

  “You said that you’d take care of him!” she protested.

  “And I have…and will continue to.” He told her. “Now what do you want?”

  “Why are you being so hostile?” Melody asked.

  Khalil got to his feet and closed his bedroom door just in case Kyros woke up. “Because Kyros hasn’t heard from you more than two times since we left Virginia and that was through damn text messages. Now you call, leaving me a message talking about our son. Did you suddenly remember that you had one?”

  “I’ve been getting my life together, Khalil!”

  “Well, congratulations Melody. I hope that worked out for you.”

  “I want to introduce my fiancé to Kyros,” she finally told him.

  Khalil felt a bomb explode in his head. “You must be out of your damn mind.”

  “Why not?”

  “Kyros barely knows who YOU are! Why would I expose my son to you and another damn man? You sound crazy.”

  “And since we’re talking about it, we’d also like to have visitation once we’re married,” Melody added.

  Khalil shook his head. “You will not step one damn foot near my son. Do you understand me?”

  “Let’s not make this messy Khalil,” she warned.

  He frowned. “Are you threatening me?”

  “My soon to be husband is a very powerful man. He can make things happen,” she boasted.

  Walking away from the door and into his bathroom, Khalil then closed that door as well. “Let me tell you something….”

  “I don’t give a fuck who your soon to be husband is or what he can do. He doesn’t want to fuck with me especially when it comes to MY son.” He gritted out.

  “Now you haven’t seen messy until you start some shit with me!” he finished.

  “I thought that we’d be able to work this out, but I see you’re the same man you always were. I’ll give you a few days to think about it,” Melody said before hanging up.

  Khalil heard the call disconnect and stared at the phone in anger. He took a moment to calm himself before hearing a soft knock on the door. Turning he opened it to find a sleepy six-year-old.

  “Hey Dadd
y,”

  Khalil smiled. “Hey little soldier, did I wake you up?”

  Kyros nodded. “I heard you. It sounded like you were mad.”

  Khalil bent and hugged his son. “I’m good. I’m sorry I woke you up.”

  Kyros was a very light sleeper and always had been, even as a baby. Khalil remembered both him and Khayla tip-toeing around their small apartment trying desperately not to wake the sleeping baby because the slightest noise would automatically set him off.

  Kyros looked at his father. “Are you okay Daddy?”

  Khalil nodded. His son was so damn smart and perceptive. He’d swear this child had been here before and done some incredible things. Hugging him close, Khalil answered. “I’m good. You want something before you go back to bed?”

  Kyros smiled and shook his head. “I was dreaming about Misty Copeland.”

  “The ballerina?” Khalil asked.

  Kyros nodded. “She’s pretty and she made history.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Khalil agreed. “How do you know who she is?”

  “Brandi told me about her and showed me on the computer.”

  Khalil lifted a brow. “Brandi, the little girl who takes ballet at the Center?”

  Kyros smiled. “Yeah, she said that she wants to be like Misty.”

  “And how did you start talking to Brandi?” Khalil asked, knowing that the girl was a few years older than his almost seven-year old.

  Kyros shrugged. “I was in the computer lab at the Center and she asked me if you had a girlfriend.”

  “Me?” Khalil looked confused, wondering why a child would be asking that question.

  “She said her Momma likes you.”

  Khalil shook his head. These kids knew too much these days.

  “I’ll talk to Brandi and her Momma,” Khalil said escorting Kyros back to his room.

  He helped his son back into bed and gathered the covers around him. Looking down he rubbed the boy’s head softly as he looked into dark brown eyes.

  “Have sweet dreams son,” he told him softly.

  Kyros smiled. “I will.”

  “I’m sure you will,” Khalil laughed. His son was known for appreciating the female frame, even at his young age. This was in part to the Negus, primarily, Lance, Corvus and Brandon. The Negus were the kings of the city and protected the citizens while rebuilding the community. When Khalil had returned to Detroit, he’d stepped up his role in the group they’d formed as young men.

  The Negus all pitched in to help with Kyros, each taking turns to spend time with him. Khalil appreciated how his brothers helped out, but sometimes he wanted to strangle them around the things his son learned from them. Khalil knew that the Negus loved Kyros like their own son and would protect him at all costs, so he really couldn’t stay mad at them for long.

  Khalil returned to his room and undressed for bed. Walking naked into the bathroom, he started the shower then stepped inside. Lowering his head, he allowed the hot water to fall over his muscles as he remembered how he’d met the woman who’d given him both the greatest joy and the worst pain in his life.

  He’d met Melody his senior year in college at Hampton University. He’d seen her at some of the Black Student Union events, although she’d never been really involved in the movement. Khalil had been the President and in charge of all the activities. His twin Khayla was also very involved serving as the Vice President.

  Khayla had never had any love for Melody, but Khalil had given all of his, despite his sister’s warnings. Melody had known all the right buttons to push. Khalil always appreciated a woman who went after what she wanted and Melody had done exactly that, until things hadn’t worked out as she’d planned.

  He’d been overseeing a fundraiser for the Union when she’d approached him with a sexy smile. Melody was a beautiful, deep ebony queen who’d caught his eye from the start.

  “Khalil, right?” she asked.

  He nodded silently, waiting for her next words.

  “Or should I call you Huey?”

  Khalil shook his head. “There’s only one Dr. Newton.”

  Melody smiled. “I forget he had a Ph.D.”

  “Most people do,” Khalil responded. “They don’t want you to know that a man who taught himself how to read was able to obtain a Doctorate Degree from their system.”

  She raised a fist. “Black power.”

  Khalil lifted a brow. “I hope you enjoy the fundraiser…” He waited.

  “Melody,” she told him. “Something that can play in your head.”

  He laughed. “I have way too much going on inside of there for that.”

  Melody looked him over. “You’ve got too much going on…period.”

  Khalil glanced around them, then brought his attention to her ebony face. “

  “Okay Melody, I’ve seen you at a few functions. You haven’t joined the group, so what is it that you’re looking for?” Khalil asked pointedly.

  “All the functions have one thing in common,” she said stepping closer.

  Khalil looked down at her. “Black issues?”

  She shook her head slowly. “A powerful Black man leading.”

  He stepped back. “Enjoy the fundraiser.”

  Khalil walked away to tend to his duties and for the rest of the event, Melody kept him in her sights. At the end of the night, Khalil and Khayla were set to leave when she approached them.

  “Hey, can I get a ride with you to my dorm?” Melody asked and Khayla turned to her brother.

  Khalil frowned. “How were you planning to get back?”

  Melody shrugged. “Lack of planning on my part.”

  Khayla shook her head and walked to the car leaving the two standing at the door.

  Before Khalil could speak, Melody placed a hand on his chest. “Look Khalil, if I came on too strong earlier…I apologize. I thought I needed to be real forward to get your attention.”

  “Why do you want my attention?” Khalil questioned.

  Melody smiled. “Uh, it’s obvious that I really like you.”

  “You don’t know me.”

  She nodded. “Khalil Lewis, majoring in Education. President of the Black Student Union. Dean’s list every year at Hampton. From Detroit, Michigan and has a twin who is studying to be a doctor.”

  Khalil watched her. “Damn, what did I eat for lunch?”

  Melody flushed. “A chicken salad sandwich and grape juice.”

  “What the hell?” he asked confused.

  “I was in the cafeteria today too and I saw you,” she explained watching him.

  He shook his head. “I need to pay better attention to my surroundings.”

  Melody laughed. “I’m not crazy and I’m not a stalker.”

  “I’m not so sure…” Khalil told her.

  “I like you Khalil and I want to get to really know you…as a person.” She removed her hand. “Tonight, I felt like it was now or never, so I took my chance.”

  She looked away. “I may have messed it up, but I took it nonetheless.”

  After a minute, Khalil lifted her face to his. “Let me drive you to your dorm and figure out just how crazy you are.”

  Melody smiled. “Just a little bit.”

  From that point, Melody had become persistent in her pursuit of Khalil. She’d become more involved with the movement and next to Khayla, the person that Khalil began to spend the majority of his time with.

  To say that he’d eventually fallen in love with her would be the understatement of the century. He’d believed that they would be together for the rest of their lives, until Khalil had made decisions that Melody had not agreed with.

  After graduation, Khalil had accepted a two-year internship in Washington, DC at the Department of Education. His goal had been to work in the system to determine where the problems were, so that when he had the opportunity, he could go home and implement the needed changes.

  Melody detested the mere thought of moving to Detroit and tried to talk Khalil out of it at every turn. Sh
e’d never even visited the city while they were involved, always having an excuse not to travel with him when he went home to visit. Her impression of his home was what she read in the papers or saw on television. Melody hadn’t wanted to take the time to see the city for herself and all the wonderful things it had to offer despite the sometimes negative appearances.

  Back to the present, Khalil washed and exited the shower. Drying his body quickly, he headed back to his room and dressed in a pair of long shorts. His phone on the nightstand rang and he answered.

  “Hey Khayla,” he said into the receiver. “Why aren’t you with your husband?”

  “I am with Lance but I needed to know how it went with Melody?” she asked.

  Khalil sighed. “I should have never told you she called.”

  “Of course, you’ll tell me. I’m your sister, your twin, and Kyros is my little soldier. Anything that affects either of you affects both me and Lance,” she told him.

  “I know my Queen Sister and I thank you.”

  “So what did that heifer want?” Khayla demanded angrily.

  Khalil left his bedroom and headed for the kitchen. “She’s still Kyros’ mother, Khayla.”

  “To you my brother, not to anyone else.”

  “She wants to introduce Kyros to her fiancé,” Khalil told her then waited for the explosion.

  In her bedroom, Khayla jumped from her bed. “What in the hell?”

  “Calm down Khayla,” he tried to calm his sister.

  “I hope you told her to slither back under the rock she came from!”

  “Not quite in that way, but I told her that no way in hell was she introducing my son to some dude. She’s crazy for real.”

  “I’ve always told you she was,” Khayla pointed out.

  Khalil sighed. “I was young Khayla and I was in love…just like you were with Lance.”

  “He didn’t break my heart and leave me with a baby,” Khayla pointed out.

  Opening the cabinet for a glass, Khalil answered. “He did break your heart.”

  “Hey dude, don’t go there.” Lance’s voice came through the phone.