Racheal finally stepped onto the landing of her apartment floor. She walked slowly towards the huge front door of her apartment. There was not a single guard waiting out here.Racheal smiled sadly, they truly were not expecting her back, or at least so soon. She inhaled to steady herself, and then opened the door.She met her maids sitting in the living room. They turned in surprise at the sound of the door opening. When they saw her, they flew off their seats to hug her.Racheal had to steady herself as they almost knocked her down. Leah was sobbing and when Luna stepped back to look at her, her eyes looked moist too.“I'm so sorry. I was cornered, they questioned me harshly.” Leah said. “They threatened to take me too if I did not say all I knew.”Racheal hugged the girl closer, hoping her heat and stench was not unbearable from not having had a proper bath in days. “It's fine. You told the truth.” She consoled her. She could not blame her, if she was this helpless in the face of
It was already dusk when Racheal stepped out, all dressed up and ready. The presidential villa was bathed in purple light as she stood waiting for her chauffeur to bring the car around. “Ma'am.” She heard someone beside her. She turned, she did not recognise him, but he was dressed in the white presidential security uniform. Yes? Her eyes questioned. “You know you cannot go out unsupervised.” The man said.“Who are you?” “The commander of your personal guards.” He bowed. It was funny how she had never met him since she arrived. Perhaps it was because she never had a reason to. All the time she had left these walls, it had been in Steffan’s company. “Well, supervise me then.” She said sarcastically. The car was here.“May I ask where we are headed?” He said a little agitated, as he opened the car door for her to climb in.“The Dalloz mansion.” She replied. The man stiffened. She placed her hand on her knees, waiting. The guard seemed to recover, bow and close the car door.Sh
“Peace.” Racheal said. Peace was perhaps what she truly wanted, what she had always wanted. All those years under her step-mother’s torture, she had craved peace. She was excited to leave with Maxwell so she could finally find peace. Here in Yin, she wanted Thalia off her back, she wanted all the insults and trouble from Danna Sherrod to stop. She just wanted to be left alone. “You cannot get that.” Madame Dalloz said. Racheal’s head snapped up. “At least not for a while. To get peace you need war. And you need a safe place to fight from. You need allies.” Madame Dalloz said.Racheal looked at her with uncertainty. She had recently realised she needed allies. From the day Danna Sherrod had accused her of trying to gain allies, she saw through the accusation that it might be the Sherrods biggest fear.She wanted allies, that was why she had taken the bold steps to come here. But fight? She had no will to fight, no strength to. She just wanted peace, to run off to a place wher
Racheal sat, stunned. She watched in horror, as Skylar seemed to be reliving her own horrible event from a few weeks ago. “What? You can't be serious.” Skylar said.“Do we look like clowns to you?” Danna Sherrod responded angrily. “Dad. I told you, I don't like men.” Skylar looked shattered. “How can you do this?”“That is exactly why we are doing this. You need fixing.” Danna Sherrod said in disgust. Steffan sat quietly through it all. For the first time Racheal looked up at him. Would he not say anything to defend his sister? She had always gotten the impression that he loved her dearly. “Look at the bright side Skylar. You'll finally get mom and dad off your back.” He finally spoke up. Everyone around the table turned to look at him in surprise. “What sort of statement is that? Whose side are you on?” Danna Sherrod gave him an angry look.“You too, Steffan?” Skylar said, sounding hurt. “You will let them do this to me?”“Enough!” The president finally spoke up slamming the ta
A few hours later, Racheal arrived at a completely different police building. She noticed how different this place was from the building she had been held in. It was open, and the hallways were busy. Cops and other people in plain clothes milled around, speaking in polite voices. Delbert led her upstairs in an elevator, and a cop joined them, as soon as they stepped out of the elevator. “Hello Mr Dalloz.” She greeted. “Ma'am.” She politely bowed to Racheal. Both of them nodded in acknowledgment to her greeting. “This way please.” She said and began to lead them down a glass-walled hallway.They walked for a few minutes, and were soon ushered into a room that was as small as the one she had been held in. It was dark, with a lone electric lamp hanging low over a table in the middle.Racheal felt uneasy being here, and she had a strong urge to run away. But she felt a calming hand over hers. “I am here.” Delbert said soothingly.She nodded and they moved further into the room. A
Rachel Rana parted the amber coloured curtains of her bedroom window and stared outside. The crowd at the city square, just outside the presidential palace, was increasing in size. They looked similar to the crowds that had gathered at this same spot in the past, tired, passionate eyes and hungry looking. But now they were happy, waving olive branches in the air and shooting fireworks. She spun around at the sound of her door opening. She was relieved to see Maxwell."Is it over?" She asked slowly, releasing the curtain she had been clutching in her grasp. "Yes." He responded. And she ran into his arms happily. She hugged him tight, the moment felt surreal. There had been rumors that the war that had raged the country for five years was coming to an end. Even Maxwell, a palace guard high up in the presidential palace had told her as much, but it had been almost too much to hope for."It feels surreal. Now we can leave and really live" she said softly withdrawing from the embrace
Racheal waited nervously the whole night and most part of the next morning for her father's return. As the president's daughter she understood politics, and could not share in the joy of her countrymen. This proposed marriage was no beautiful union or an example to emulate as the local and international media was making it out to be. She was sitting out on the balcony when she heard heavy boots approaching from within her room. She stood up in panic when she saw the white uniforms and black hats. Two men reached out and grabbed her arm, while the third man said,"We are here to escort you Miss. Your father ordered you'd be brought up immediately." Racheal recognised him as the chief guard in charge of her father's personal security. "But I am not even properly dressed." She argued weakly as they half dragged her out from the balcony into her room. She had only grey shorts and a black tank top on. The men completely ignored her protests and practically marched her up to her fathe
Rachel did not wake up until many hours later. She opened her eyes to a doctor bent over her. Her mind traveled back to the conversation with her father and she sprang up, and withdrew in fright. Her head began pounding in protest. "Relax." The doctor cooed. "I am glad you are up. How does your head feel?" Racheal looked at the woman with distrust."I have a terrible headache." She said,"That was expected, the blow to your head was quite..." The woman paused with an uncomfortable smirk. "Bad." She added. "How is your vision?"Racheal slowly removed her gaze from the doctor's face and looked around. "Fine." She announced. The room looked a little hazy but she suspected it was because she had been out for so long. "How long was I unconscious?" She asked. "About six hours." The doctor responded. "You should really not be receiving blows like this. They are very dangerous.""You should tell HER that." Racheal said. She had been maltreated for years. Roselyn would hit her violently