BLOODHOUNDS #1: THE ABDICATED PRINCE

Chapter 3 - ADAPTING

Luna Morris

"Why didn't you tell me that you know Clyde Nielsen?" Ever since Clyde left, Daisy couldn't stop asking about Clyde. I shook my head, letting her know I didn't want to discuss him.

Not now, not later, and certainly not ever.

"Fine. Fine, I'll stop..." Daisy shut her mouth briefly and then, "Do you know who he is, though?"

"Daisy, I don't want to know," I said as I walked towards the fridge, taking a jug of cold water. Daisy was pouting as she threw herself onto the sofa. She's looking at you, annoyed.

"He called you butterfly." She said, mumbling, but it was enough for me to hear her. You poured the water into a glass and took a couple of sips.

"Drop it," I said, and she pouted again. Still holding my glass of water, I walked toward the sofa and sat beside her.

"I'm curious..." She whispered, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "He was my childhood friend, our friendship ended decades ago. Since then, I swore not to appear in front of him again."

"Well... You should have told me before you move here." She said in a careful tone which made you so curious.

"Why? What do you mean?" Daisy sat up straight, and she even put your glass of water on the table. "He rules Seattle, not only Seattle, from what I've heard."

"Okay."

"Okay?!" She raised her voice,

"I don't care. I swore not to appear in front of him again, so... Whatever information about him that you have, it won't bother my stay in Seattle." I said confidently.

"Suit yourself." She said, and not long after, she left my apartment to rest. I showered, ate lunch, and locked myself in my dark room to create more art. I sat before my blank canvas, thinking about what I should smudge first, but suddenly my head went blank.

Usually, I always have something in my head for inspiration. Either it's a shot glass, a dollar I saw on the street, or perhaps a sidewalk.

Nothing.

My mind is empty.

My phone rang, and it was none other than my grandfather. I picked up the call and put it on speaker. "Hello, Gerald," I said in an annoyed tone. I can't believe he told Clyde about my well-being here.

"What did I do?" He asked in a confused tone.

"What do you mean what did you do?" I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "You told Clyde about me being here in Seattle, grandfather." There's silence between us for a few seconds.

"I only told Nikolas about it, and I never thought he would tell Clyde." Of course.

"Well, he found me." I sighed as I grabbed my phone, walking out of the room. "Tell Nikolas that his grandson needs to stop being a creep."

"He's being a creep? That twat!" Grandfather hissed as I walked towards the glass window, looking at the busy street filled with people.

"I just hope that I won't see him again." My phone vibrated, and my finger slid down the screen to check. "Don't be like that, Luna. He was just a little kid back then. People change, and I think he's trying to make it up to you."

It's an unknown number.

A security team will come tomorrow morning to install some cameras and have an inspection around the apartment. The apartment you live in now had a creep who got caught breaking in and installing hidden cameras everywhere.
- C.N

"He just texted me, and I don't know how he got my number." I hissed. "What did he say?" Grandfather asked curiously, and his tone told me that he was excited.

"He's sending a security team to install cameras around my apartment." I'm not thrilled. I know he's doing all this out of guilt, but I don't need him to be around me or have a casual Saturday texting each other.

I texted, "Mind your business and tell them not to come. I can take care of myself."

"He's being nice, Luna. You can't hate him forever, and it's been over 15 years." He's right. I know he's right, but I can't let it go. Not that easy when all I did was want to be by his side.

"Please tell Nikolas I don't want him to show his face again."

"Fine, I let him know, but you should give him a chance to talk, to explain what exactly happened that day." That is not happening, and I don't want to hear any excuses from his mouth.

"I'll think about it." When pigs fly.

"You can continue whatever you're doing, and I'm just checking on you. Stay safe, my brightest moon." I smiled, "I will, and I love you." I said. "I love you too."

After I ended the call, I checked the message from Clyde again. I changed his name to Annoying C, and I was so proud that I giggled like a high school girl.

The phone rang, and I picked it up right away, thinking that Grandfather might have forgotten to ask me if I had breakfast or not.

"Are you calling me to ask if I ate or not?" I asked so casually that my whole body turned into ice. "I was going to tell you that the security team is coming now, but you might as well tell me. Have you eaten?" It's Clyde.

"Clyde, I have told you once that day. That I don't want you to appear in front of me again, that includes minding your own business and never calling me again! If you call me again, I'm getting a restraining order on you." I was pissed. No, correction to that. I'm furious that he's not taking my words seriously.

The doorbell rang, and I walked towards the door, revealing all the staff from the security company. There were 5 of them, and they gave me their biggest smile.

"Good afternoon, Ms.Morris. Mr.Nielsen sent us-"

"I'm actually on a call with Mr.Nielsen, and I'm not doing this. You can go home." I said bluntly, and they looked at each other before looking straight at me like they were begging to work.

"Sending them home will cost them their job. Let them in, Luna." He said in a serious tone.

"I told you that I-" Before I could say something, the staff warned me not to defy him. I looked at them, confused, and decided to let them go in.

"Good."

"After this, don't get involved again! Let's live like we never knew each other." I said confidently, hoping that he would stop trying to talk to you.

"What do you mean? We're just getting started, butterfly."