Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 150: Getting Over Her Traumas One By One

Chapter 150: Getting Over Her Traumas One By One

The next day, it was a little warmer and Talia decided to take a walk and Rebecca joined. Talia was wearing blue jeans with a white sherpa pullover and a white beanie with a pop of blue stripe.

As she took a walk, Mr. Ed and her security followed her and since Rebecca didn’t want Joe to follow them, he was detained by Talia’s men. Even though Rebecca and Joe were in the same house they didn’t talk much and Joe was disheartened.

As they walked, Talia could hear dogs barking and when she asked, Mr. Ed explained that since they expected something might happen, they left only a couple of guard dogs here and sent other dogs to safer places in the previous days.

Talia almost cried seeing Sparkles the Bernese mountain dog barking and running towards them. Sparkles got attached to Talia as soon as Talia got here. She was a very friendly dog and Talia was told she was pregnant.

"She gave birth yesterday... A litter of four healthy puppies." Clint joined them and he had a rifle with him. Apparently he likes to take his walk with them... Weird!

As Talia was playing with Sparkles, she felt that weird feeling and looked around to see some drones flying around.

Rebecca’s family owned acres of land and since they refused to talk with reporters, they must be sending drones inside now. News have already leaked that the Turner farm is where they had the confrontation with the cartel members and so the reporters were desperate for their scoop. They wanted an interview but no one talked to them and so they sent in drones?

"Is Castle doctrine valid here?" Talia asked Clint.

"Yes, but we cannot shoot drones if that’s what you ask. How do you know these are not government property?" Clint answered. Talia looked at Mr. Ed and he shook his head signifying that they cannot do anything else but sue the paper if they publish the pictures.

" But I don’t want them to take my pictures! " Talia was not pleased.

But then suddenly an idea popped in her head. She did not know if she could do it, but she wanted to try. She used to do it. It won’t be hard to do it again, right? How long should she be depending on others to protect herself?

"Give me the rifle, Clint" Talia got the rifle from Clint. Mr. Ed was surprised by what Talia asked.

Doesn’t the Princess has trauma with guns?

"Can she do that?" Clint was confused but seeing Mr. Ed nod, he passed the rifle to Talia.

Talia walked to the front leaving everyone behind and in the plain ground blanketed with snow, she stood there pointing the rifle at one of the drones.

Talia could feel her heartbeat racing and her throat closing and every fibre of her being wanted to drop the rifle to the ground. But she wanted to get over that fear. Maybe she never will be able to shoot a human once again, but she at least wanted to be able to use a weapon.

Maybe it will come in handy one day. Maybe it will save her one day; or a loved one! Maybe she should be able to overcome this fear for the sake of her bodyguards! She didn’t want anyone else to get hurt for her. She needs to have at least one skill to save herself.

The drone didn’t leave and so did the other drones. Everyone was too excited as they saw the one pointing a gun at a drone camera. They did get good pictures.

"Your Highness... Maybe you should..." Mr. Ed realising Talia standing there frozen, tried to get closer to her to get the weapon from her hand. What is she pushed herself too hard and ended up spiralling downwards?

"Back off, Sir Robert!" Talia ordered and Mr. Ed stood his ground. He cannot break her order. But it was nice to see her this determinant.

’They are not living things,Talia. They don’t have family. They are just plastic and electronics. You can compensate the owners with money even if you damage it!’

Talia spoke to herself and aimed at the drone once more.

*Bang*

It took her everything and a lot of effort to make the shot... she made a shot and as expected, she missed it. It’s been a long time. But Talia could feel herself calming down. Maybe because she used to love doing target practice in the past, now that she heard the sound of the bullet leaving the barrel of the rifle, calmed her. It made her remember the good old times where everything was fine.

Cyrus was there... Her Grandpa, even though she didn’t talk to him much, he was there.... Fred was there...

As she pulled the trigger, she remembered the good times she had with Cyrus. Everytime she did a perfect shot, Cyrus will give her permission to stay an extra half an hour in Fred’s apartment alone. For that reason, she used to get herself better in hitting the target.

A pleasant smile formed in her lips as a pat memories flooded in and she could see the drones falling down one by one.

"You got it all!" Clint was surprised. Rebecca hugged Talia and Mr. Ed had a proud smile in his face.

Talia felt peaceful. That day of the riots, she couldn’t even pull the trigger to get the camera. But now, she was able to shoot continuously and precisely.

This is good! This is good! Cyrus did you see? I did it once again!

Talia ended up crying as she hugged Rebecca. She didn’t know if it is out of happiness that she is slowly getting out of her traumatic past or it is sadness that she missed Cyrus, but she wanted to cry.

But the picture already taken by the drone cameras were released. Of course the royal family stopped publications in Rosandale in A Country threatening lawsuit, but a publisher in Esteria courageously posted the picture of Talia with an article many didn’t expect.

It was her side profile, holding the rifle and aiming at a drone. In her own thoughts Talia didn’t notice a drone getting closer to her to take pictures.

And that picture was the first page news in Esteria in the evening papers.

In Esteria, a woman with a neatly manicured fingers, held the evening paper in her hand. With the snow in the background, the blue in her beanie and her eyes popped and her white sherpa contrasted with her aubrey brown hair. Her skin was fair like the snow and her cheeks had a natural blush. The focus in her eyes was so mesmerising and she really looked like a determined warrior; but in a cute way.

She crushed the paper with her fingers and threw the crumpled paper in the bin.

"Do you think she arranged this? How can a drone take this beautiful picture as the article claims? And she shot down all the drones? And why do people support her now?" Prince Edward leaned on Olivia. Olivia gritted her teeth and gave her everything to not slap that man off her shoulder.

What a petulant child! He read the article! The article describes her as a Greek goddess preparing to hunt. Like she is going to get what she wants. All she wants is a place in her homeland. She is graceful like a Swan, determined like an Eagle and beautiful like a peacock. She is the whole deal.

Ugh! Like hell! She is holding a gun and shooting like a maniac! Why isn’t the article comparing this with the murder she did ten years back?

This is not the first article written supporting her. The tides are slowly turning towards her. But how? Who manipulates the media? Or surely is not Arthur for he is too busy bringing down Northern Star. Sophia is sure of it.

This was a terrible terrible day for her. First she learnt that Jared Cooper is arrested. But she knew he won’t get caught easily. She tried calling him again and again but her calls aren’t going through. The pictures of the arrests aren’t released, but every detail specifies that Jared got caught.

What should she do? If the federal agents are detaining him, it would be hard to escape. If she tries to meet him, she’d be tried as an accomplice too. What should she do?

No! It can’t be him! Every detail about Jared the federal bureau released is right! Yes, everything is right; except his age!

Olivia smirked. She still believed that they didn’t catch Jared. The Jared she knew surely is not fifty nine years old! No... No!

But why is Jared not answering me? Is he safe? Did he escape well? What should I do?

I know! I’ll continue doing what he wanted me to do!

"Did your father agree to announce our engagement?" Olivia brought her usual celebrity smile and hooked her arm around Edward’s neck.

"You know...." she slowly trailed her fingers down his chest and down her abdomen and reached his pants. ’If we announce our engagement now, we can stop the public from talking about her... " she slowly unzipped his pant zipper and knelt between his legs.

" Ugh!" Prince Edward grunted as he felt the pleasure given by her soft lips at his most sensitive part.

" The couriers say that Father still doesn’t want to meet me... "

" Oh really? "Olivia gritted her teeth hiding her face from his vision. That old sicko! Why isn’t he dying yet? If he died, I’ll become the Queen Consort and will gain more power in this country.

" It’s fine. Why don’t we go meet him in the hospital? Maybe he will cozy up to me if we meet often... " she spoke softly as she played with him.

"You know I love you to the moon and back! I love how confident you are! You are the future King! You should be more assertive! The whole nation adores you! That couriers who stop us from meeting your father are just jealous of you. They know your wisdom and fear you..."