His Little Heir

Cheating on Leon

     "I wanna go into town."

     Daya layed the words on her father as she brushed through her hair. She timed one brush stroke, root to end, and frowned at her findings: eight seconds. Time for a cut.

      "Huh?" Don sat up, "Before you go any futher, define going into the city."

     "I'm not cheating on Leon, Dad."

      "I didn't say that you were."

     Daya pulled her hair into a bun, and sat next to her father. She allowed herself to slouch; stress could only dwell on her poised shoulders for so long.

     "You kinda did." She flashed him a smile, "Going into the city means looking for a prostitute."

     Don narrowed his eyes, "When did.... why...?"

     "Just go with it."

     "Okay then, so uh, what exactly are your plans?"

     Daya peered at the ceiling. What did she want to do? Rarely had she stepped outside of Faye castle or its groves and gardens without her fingers interlocked with Leon's, those same fingers now blackened with pain and violence.

     She would need a disguise; Daya hovered her thoughts over reusing the one she had worn to the museum, but shoved the idea away. Maybe a subtle change of style could buy her some time, a baggy hoodie and her hair tied back, perhaps.

     She let out a sigh, "I don't know. What do you think I should do?"

     "Daya, I think it's high time you present yourself to your people. No disguises, no angsty boyfriend, just you.... and a couple of guards of course." Don looked into her eyes, watching as the gears within her turned.

     "Angsty? Leon's not-"

     Daya froze at the sight of her father eyeing her with folded arms and a furrowed brow. She snorted in defeat, and shifted her eyes to the ground.

      "Never mind. I just... it's strange, trying to walk this path when I don't even have my foot in the door. Everything is stacked against me here. I'm just some dumb b**** that got thrown into this mess, and to think, I'll be queen of that mess. No one wants me here, Dad. The media's made that quite clear."

     "You are not a dumb b****, Daya. I told you not to stay up all last night reading that crap." Don threw his arms around her, "And if anything, you're my dumb b****."

     "Dad!"

     "You're also my little girl, so get out there and act like it!"

     "So be a dumb b**** and ugly?"

     Don rolled his eyes and released her, "Very funny."

      Daya wiped the tears that had managed to slide down her face away; no more. She had done enough crying, the red, puffy streaks that painted her cheeks could attest to that. No more hiding in Leon's arms, trying to make things work. Daya loved him, she knew that, but far more demanding trials layed in the constolations of destiny's stars.

     "So what do I do now? I've got almost an entire nation against me, my boyfriend; or... whatever he is, is probably abusive, and Austin still isn't answering my calls." Daya exhaled and let herself fall backwards onto the bed.

     Don moved closer to her,"You're still calling him?"

     "THAT'S what you focus on?!"

     "Look, it's not my fault you kept me out of the loop. A man's gotta sip the tea somehow."

     "Dad, do me a favor." Daya sat up and rested both hands on her father's shoulders, "Never use that phrase again."