BLOODHOUNDS #1: THE ABDICATED PRINCE

Chapter 40 - DEFINITION

Clyde Nielsen

I just saw Luna go through five stages of emotions in a day. She's been crying, laughing, getting angry, jumpy, and, lastly, horny. She announced that she got her period this morning, and I googled how to help girls get through one.

I had zero idea because Luna was my first girlfriend.

Now she's crying again after she made me watch a rom-com movie where she's supposed to be laughing. She has been clingy throughout the day, too, and I'm living for it.

"She left him in a barn wifeless." Luna cried as she hugged both of her legs to her chest. I gave her more tissues while trying not to laugh. This morning I laughed at her for crying about cookies, and she got mad at me for teasing her.

She's just adorable.

"He's going to get her, so don't worry." It's so predictable.

"Why do you spoil it?!" She cried again.

"Butterfly, rom-com always have a happy ending." Yesterday, she told me that it was so childish of her to cry over a hidden message in her painting. She told me that no one ever saw her secret statement in her paintings before.

She told me to avoid her painting as much as possible because I ruined the fun.

That night she told me that she would proceed with the case, and I promised to be with her every step of the way. She was scared to go to London, but I assured her everything would be fine.

"Do you remember when I proposed to you back then?" She asked as she wiped her tears.

How can I not remember that proposal? It was the weirdest proposal that I've ever heard. Not only she's the one who proposed, but she made me promise and swore to the entire thing that I'll marry her when we're old enough.

"Yes, and are you planning to propose to me again?" I asked, and she threw a tissue to my face, "You wish."

"It's okay. I'll be the one who does it this time." I said, and she buried her head with a pillow.

When I was 13 years old, she told me to come to her house early because she had a surprise for me. When I arrived, she was holding three roses that still had thorns on them. She put her hand out, giving the roses to me. I took it, and it almost cut me.

"Will you marry me when I'm older?" She asked me innocently while I was confused with the sudden proposal, "I saw a movie with my grandmother yesterday, and the girl did it. They got married when they're older."

"Why do you think I want to marry you?" I asked her, and she pouted, "I can give you my drawings every day, and I bet you that I'll become the prettiest girl you've ever seen."

"I guess." I looked down at the flowers while Luna was squealing, jumping up and down.

"Promise me!" She said, and I looked up at her, "Promise you what?"

"That you'll marry me." She smiled with her hands intertwined in front of her chest. I can't help but chuckle.

"Promise me!" She whined.

"I promise to marry you, Butterfly," I said, and she hugged her.

"Oh! You have to swear it now!"

"Swear what?"

"That you'll take care of me until the day I die." I can't believe this girl. Not only she made me promise to marry her, but she swore to take care of her until the day she died.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't assure you that I can do so.." Of course, I can't, not when Christopher is out to kill me.

"Why?" She pouted.

"I just can't."

"Fine, you should swear to me that you'll love me until the day you die." I chuckled at her, but she was glaring at me for it.

"I swear that I'll love you until the day I die, Butterfly."

It might be a stupid promise for her, but for me, I took it seriously. After I went home, I swore to myself that day that I would marry her and love her until the day I died. I also vowed to protect and care for her, which I failed miserably.

I will never forgive myself, but Luna doesn't need to know that.

"You want to get married?" She asked as she looked up at me.

"Yes," I said, nodding.

"To me?"

"Who else? You're the one who made me promise and swore it. I told you that I'm taking it seriously." She threw a pillow at me, and I caught it in time.

"You don't want to?" I asked, and she didn't answer. She bit her bottom lips, thinking about it.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?" I raised my eyebrows, looking at her, waiting for her answer. "Clyde, getting married is a big deal. It takes two people who are so in love with each other."

The word LOVE never means anything to me. For me, if two people decide to get married, it means they care for each other. I never knew the real definition of LOVE because I never received it. I was born alone and thought I would die alone one day.

"Do you love me? Because if you don't, I don't think we can get married." She added.

"What is love to you?"

"Love is when you know you can't live without the other person." Her answer was simple, but it was shallow. I know Luna is not the type to express something with words. She talks through her art.

And her definition of love is such a textbook answer.

"Do you love me, Luna?" I asked, and she nodded shyly. She avoided my eyes, "And you can't live without me?"

"I know my answer about love is not the best, but you know what I mean." She said, still not looking at me, "How about you? What is love to you?"

"Well, I don't know anything about love, but I'll do this if we get married. I'll take care of you, physically and emotionally. I will not let anyone hurt you because I will hurt them infinitely until they wish for death instead. My emotions for you are too strong to be defined as love. I'm possessive and protective, and I would kill for you. I will guarantee you happiness, and your wish will always be my command."