Free Dictator s Daughter by Lorena Angell

think you’re going?”
    “It’s clear you no longer wish to be bothered
by my presence. I will retire to my chambers.”
    “Oh no you won’t, sit back down. This whole
ordeal is your fault, so you’re going to suffer through the trial
right along with me.”
    “My fault?”
    “Yes, I’ve heard the silly ideas you’ve put
in her head. ‘Be strong, hold your head high, resist in silence.’
Didn’t you think about the consequences of your actions,
Elinore?”
    She was silent. She wasn’t aware he knew she
had said those things to Eliwese. Her heart raced inside her
chest.
    “You’ll stay right here with me and suffer
until I tell you to retire to your room.”
     
    **********
    Sean got up early the next morning and went
out to chop wood. His nerves were on high since guessing and
confirming Eli’s gender. He had a lot of pent up emotions he needed
to deal with. He still didn’t know why she was fleeing or why there
wasn’t any heat on her head.
    He hauled the wood in the house and when he
entered the living room, he found his family grouped around the
television like moths to a streetlamp. He quietly placed the wood
in the box and joined them.
    “The eldest daughter of Victor Rawlings is
reported missing this morning.” A photograph was in the top corner
of the screen displaying a beautiful woman with long wavy auburn
hair and dark eyes. Sean was mesmerized by her appearance. He
didn’t even realize the dictator had a daughter that old. Sean
knew, like most people, there wasn’t an heir apparent due to the
fact Victor Rawlings didn’t have a son, but Sean had no idea
Rawlings had such a beautiful daughter.
    “Details are still coming in and searches
have already begun in Baylend for Eliwese, centering on the town of
Slaterville. If you have any information…”
    The volume dimmed down to complete silence as
Ryan held the button on the remote. “I bet there is a huge reward
for her .”
    Lyndee responded with, “Ryan, she’s the
dictator’s daughter; of course there would be a huge reward. She’s
his oldest and without her he has no hope for an heir.”
    Sean added, “I didn’t even know Rawlings had
a daughter that old, and so… beautiful. Why would she be
missing?”
    “If Victor was my father, I’d run too,”
Lyndee said.
    “How do you know she ran?” Ryan asked.
    “Maybe she was kidnapped?” Sean
suggested.
    Sara spoke for the first time. “Victor
Rawlings will want everyone to think she’s been kidnapped, that way
his presence will be justified here in Slaterville. We must all be
on high alert and Sean you’ll need to be aware that we could be
raided at any time. You’ll need to act accordingly. However, there
is no sign of an impending raid as of yet, no P.I.’s, and no influx
of Rendierian patrol cars. Lyndee, you have a crosser coming this
afternoon. Once she gets here, you’ll need to be wary also.”
    Ryan jumped in with, “That must be her! You
know, Lyndee’s new crosser; it must be Eliwese Rawlings.”
    Paul answered Ryan, “I doubt it; this one is
in her late sixties.”
    “Hey, Sean,” Ryan had another idea, “maybe
Eli knows something about Rawlings’ daughter?”
    “Ryan, you’ll need to do the errands for your
mother for the next few days.” Paul attempted to pull Ryan’s
attention off of Sean and Eli.
    Sean was glad for that. He did intend on
asking Eli what she knew, but he didn’t intend on telling Ryan any
of it. He left the front room and headed to his upstairs room.
Instead of entering his room, though, Sean opened the linen closet
door and slipped inside the small opening. He entered his
surveillance room and walked over to the mirror to observe Eli.
    Eli lay on the bed reading a motorcycle
magazine. She’s after my own heart, Sean thought. He loved
motorcycles, too. Sean had a sudden realization, Eli must be
Eliwese . It would explain why his father had referred to Eli as
the hottest crosser they had ever housed. Eliwese Rawlings,