Reigning innocence

Chapter Three: Changes are coming.

  "Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine." -Jack Ma

(November 17th, 2016) 

There was still no news on whether or not - my friends, the ones that I have come to care about in the past five years, are alive or dead. It can be rather exasperating, but I guess that comes with the territory. Are they or are they not? That's the question after all. Danny was with...I can't even fathom to think that yet alone say that. Jamie was looking for me and the other two were doing who knows what. In two days, I will choose to either succeed or surpass the role as Queen. Sanguinely by then, I will have been able to know who destroyed the world in one blow. I guess we'll just see what happens, now won't we?

"My Lady Eleanor? I'm Grace. We briefly met a couple of weeks back, but never really got to know each other. I'm a interpersonal intelligence corresponder." says a caramel-skinned woman with dark chestnut eyes and a gracious smile. 

"Gracie? You're the one that was with Charlie and Quincy, right?" I question as I set down my book. My lengthy hair kept falling in my eyes, so I instantaneously stole the black rubber band from my wrist; and folded the pieces over until I had a dutch braid. 

"Indeed. So, I have a question? Do you plan on being the new Queen? If so, do you plan on resurrecting The Council?" replies Grace as she pulls out her felt pen.

Questions after questions. I guess I should accept the fact that this is my new reality. Should I build a new empire?

Rolling my eyes, I look at her and smugly reply "Do I have a choice? Edwin is already calling me Queen and everyone is looking to me for the answers. I am the council. Okay that came out rudely. Yet I am to uphold the written clause as I am technically blood related? Is that fair? And which house will be my surname? No, frankly no one cares that thousands of innocent people have lost their lives due to a mad man. A man who we should've overlooked even closely. Do you really believe that if I gracefully decline position of Head of State - that Edwin will be able to do this job? I'm only 25 years old and I am an American-English Citizen and it shocks me that England is okay with this transition. What sane person wants to rule England, but the other countries that fall under this reign? This is most certainly not what I signed up to do and I was promised that there'd be more time. In regards to the council, I will keep the family tradition going if and only if -I were to become The Majesty Queen Eleanor Elizabeth Reign Whittmore of - whatever house I were to choose. Most likely it would be Winsdor, but do you have any other questions at hand, Grace?"

"Yes. If you would've been more forceful in convincing the Queen that this man's threats were dangerous, do you think this would have happened? Have you always seen The Queen as competition? Will you be the Successor to Queen Victoria? Is there any update on the list of casualties? How many people are dead? Who from the council is still alive? What is your plan if you choose to be crowned Queen of England?"

Rolling my eyes, I stare down and jokingly say, "Bombard me with questions, now won't you? Listen, I do not think we could've prevented the bombings - but we could've made the issue smaller. The Queen was never competition - because I never wanted this job and title. That's a possibility. Not at the moment, but I do have Edwin looking into all of that. I have no bloody clue on to who from the council is alive. I don't have a plan as of right now, but I will write one... if that will make you happy?!" 

The look on her face was utter outrage: eyes getting huge, her mouth slightly open, and just tension in the way she was holding herself. She had it coming from the way she kept asking me those questions? Did she want me not to answer them with so much force? This is my life we are talking about. This is the country's fate we're currently discussing. This is the current situation at hand. I'm sorry if I am being too blunt - but  if she's going to get butt-hurt over my questions - then she needs to leave, because there's a chance that I will be Queen; so I will have my own rules and I will see forth to changes.

"Uhm. One last question, Ellie. If you do decide to become the successor..."

"Are we sure this is the last question?"

"I'm a reporter. I thought you of all people understood the interview process?

"Carry on."

"As I was saying, if you become the next queen - who will you marry? Who will be your husband? Do you have any suitors?"

"That depends on who is currently still in my life. As potential Queen of England, I have the right to choose a husband to become Prince of England. It's my choice. If the people do not like my choices, they may leave. They may riot. Surely, I will understand as the matter at hand; the more important matter is not my love life, but the fact that the world was just bloody bombed! No further comments."

"I-I...uhm... thank you Ellie. Your words definitely resonated with me and I understand that your love life is not the top priority. I hope you have a somewhat okay day." quickly says Grace as she packs up everything and leaves down the path of ruble.

"Eleanor! Where the bloody hell have you escaped to?" yelled Edwin as he dodges the debris and heads in my direction.

I sit down and just stare dumbfounded at the scene ahead of me when an idea came to me. Should I entrust Edwin with this idea? No, he'll talk me out of it. Yes, because he's the closest thing you have to family besides the girls and he knows the ins-and-outs of this diplomacy! Yes, tell him.  "Over here, Edwin. I'm right here next to the ruins and rubble! Where else do I have to go? "

"My lady. Thank heavens. I couldn't find you and then I thought the worse and -"

"Stop blabbing. I have an idea and I need you to be 100% on board, Edwin. No ifs, ands, or buts allowed! Do you understand me?" 

"What is it?"

"I need a Tele that works! Not one that is going to lose signal. I need a video camera and a USB cord to connect the camera to the live stream thing on Facebook. Can you get me that? I need to do a broadcast and before you slam me for it not being safe - let me remind you that nobody is safe. This is so people understand who I am as an individual person. Can you comprehend that? I don't want them to assume that I wanted this to happen so I could be the Crown...the head of state. Edwin McCallister! Are you even listening to me over here?" I snap as I stared blatantly at him waiting for him to acknowledge me. Is he doing this to piss me off? Oh it's working, because I am quite livid. What the bloody hell? He wants me to be The Queen of England and now he shuts up. I'm going to quite possibly ring his neck if he doesn't confirm my order! Ugh!

"Oh my lady. I think that is quite reasonable; don't worry - I am already on it. Give me a couple hours and we should be streaming later. Is there anything else you'd like me to do for you, Ellie?"

"Find..."

"Yes?"echoed Edwin as he waited for me to finish my sentence.

Shaking my head, "Find Vinny, George, Jamie, and Danny. Find them. I cannot do this without them. Can you do that as well? Or do I need to find Charles or Quincy to do your job?"

Rolling his eyes and scrunching his nose in anger or whatever, he responds with "Don't threaten me like that, Elle. I will be just find and dandy on my own doing your duty and finding your men. I will update you in an hour."

"Edwin?"

"Yeah?" questions Edwin as he stops in the walkway and turns towards me to listen to me.

"Don't disappoint me."

Then he leaves without further adding the burning fire...disappearing amongst the smouldering clouds of grey.