Opus Veda

Sermon made a cautious return home. Jason had warned him the service fee was going up - Sermon knew the residents would mob him for solutions if they caught him.

He snuck upstairs, holding his heart as he passed Kasia's flat. They all had to do their bit for the revolution, and at least she wouldn't see combat.

The estate stank of scum from the latest river surge. Ground floor residents had shunted waste upstairs, setting the stage for a bout of arguments. More than ever Sermon thought of moving; of leaving behind old ties.

He opened his door and flicked the light. It was dead. A power cut. He growled.

But the other flats had electricity.

Someone was behind him.

Sermon spun and bailed his fist. A forearm blocked it - locked his arm. A knee pounded his chest and floored him. He choked and pleaded surrender. The invader smelt of pungent, plastic fruit.

"Imany!?"

Imany pressed her knee into his neck, "how'd you know it was me then?"

Sermon gasped for air, "mphh… it's the berry blast… I can't breath Imi!"

She pressed harder, "this is in your heritage Sermon. Your ancestors faced worse, and unlike them, you deserve it."

"I'm not… fuckin' black!"

"No apparently I'm not either. But however many labels they cook up for us, I ain't seein' any of these 'not-black' folk climb very high. Now listen to me and stop fuckin' wrigglin'. You're tellin' me what you and Kasia have been up to or I'm gonna go to Ms Hogarth and blame our visit on your Red mates."

"You bitch! You'll get us killed!"

"That's what you're bein' trained to do boy."

"And what about your Kasia!? The fuckin' daughter you never had - nngh!," Sermon yanked his neck free, "not good enough though is she? Not the daughter Imany woulda raised!"

"I can see you're angry."

"You fuckin' spinster! Even I get more cock than you argh!"

Imany heaved his arm behind his neck, "you won't be gettin' a wank in the shower if I pop this arm out its socket."

"I'll 'ave my squad on ya!"

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"You wanna tell them you got jumped by a spinster?! Will this be before or after Ms Hogarth has you in court?"

"Shit!" Sermon went limp and whined. Imany laughed.

"You're not really a strong man, are you Sermon?"

"What like your dead husband was!?"

"And the reason I never liked you, is 'cause you try too hard. Always pushin', always competin'. What Revolution Britannia and I have in common, is we see a man like you, and we see someone who is easily swayed."

"What do you wanna hear!? Ey!?"

"So easily led astray… if Opus Veda got to you first you'd be Black instead izzit? A little Black Bantu boy..."

"Stop fuckin' wiv me Imany!"

"Tell me how Kasia got them injuries."

"You what? Fuckin' let me go Imany!"

"Sermon. I just wanna guarantee she's safe. Tell me about her injuries."

"What injuries!? What 'appened!? Where is she!? Kash! Kash!"

Sermon spun his head about. Imany gripped his cheeks in one hand and twisted him around to face her.

"That poor girl walked past me earlier lookin' like a dog's chew toy. Said she was mugged but no way it's that. Someone's been at her."

Sermon whimpered. Imany crushed his face.

"Look at me boy. Is. Kasia. safe?"

His eyes glistened. His lip quivered.

"No…"

Imany prised the facts out - the recruits, the American Nazis, Luca's death. Sermon had moved on as a soldier; Kasia got cocky and fell behind.

She killed someone. Sermon didn't know who but the victim worked in Canary Wharf, the last borough anyone messed with. He had convinced himself their bosses simply kicked Kasia out, until he saw her profile in a venue he couldn't bring himself to describe.

He assumed Kasia was there now, working off a debt to clear her name.

Imany wilted, her heart broken by the truth - a young mother lured to war one day, forced into sex work and raped the next.

She wiped her eyes.

"It's funny isn't it boy? For all this 'post-race-post-patriarchy' bullshit we're fed, things are worse than ever. The only people brave enough to admit it are called terrorists. Who really wears the masks in this story?"

"All of us Imi…" Sermon puffed his vape and offered it to her, "as if there's any other way?"

"We have to call the police."

"I can't-"

"I can. Gimme them detectives numbers, they'll love this."

"You'll expose Kasia! Is that what you want?"

"We'll get her witness protection-"

"And then lead the Blues to me."

Imany stared coldly into him, "what's wrong? Can't set your 'squadmates' on them? Contact her. Get her to leave."

"Why can't you?"

She sighed and handed the vape back, "she blocked me."

"Typical daughter…" Sermon tutted, tried messaging Kasia, and cast his phone aside.

"Unfriended. Blocked."

"Bollocks. Can you reach her any other way?"

"I could visit her workplace as a client, keep swipin' till her profile comes up," he lit up, then stumbled on a concern, "the problem's if the main guy's there. Chef. He can read your tastes like a fuckin' weather forecast. He'll know I'm up to no good if I'm lookin' for a bird."

"Fuck's sake I'll go. If she's not there, then I call the police."

"Alright..." Sermon pinched his brow, "what should I do?"

"You are gonna do somethin' that means more than any ideology," Imany lifted him up by his collar, "watch Eva. She might not have a mum for much longer."