Chapter 3! Longest one yet! Hopefully, I didn't make you guys wait too long. My goal is to update once a week. So please R&R!
After Claude left, I returned to my room. I looked at my phone; 11 missed calls. Who in the world?! I look at the familiar number that 8 of the missed calls came from. Mom. I completely forgot to call her. Uncle probably told her about what happened.
"Phoenix! It's about time!" My mom answered the phone on the second ring.
"Mom calm down!" I yell back.
"Are you okay?! Your uncle said that there is nothing left of the apartment. What if you wouldn't have been at that party? By the time the fire started you would have been asleep. What if you would have died?!" My mother was getting hysterical and paranoid now. Not good.
"Mom! Calm down! Deep breaths." I waited for her to breath a couple times, before continuing. "I've already gone down that train of thought, and I don't want to go back. I'm fine here in Philip Kingdom. The royal family here is very nice and understanding. I called the school, and they're letting me take the week off." I tell her.
"That's good, baby girl. Please, relax. Call me everyday, and let me know if something new comes up." Mom says.
"I will, Mom. Take your own advice, and relax. I'm alive and well. Nothing to worry about. Love you. Bye." I tell her.
"Love you. Bye." I hung up then.
Two of the missed calls are from Uncle. Probably wanting to check up. I dialed his phone, and he answered quickly.
"Phoenix!" Uncle called happily.
"Hello, Uncle." I reply.
"How are things in Philip?" Uncle asked.
"Fine. Everyone is nice and polite." I stress the last word.
"Yes. Philip is known for that." I could tell Uncle wasn't completely focused on the conversation.
"I was wondering something, Uncle?" I ask.
"Yes?" Uncle asks.
"Why am I in Philip? Why not have me stay in Charles with Prince Edward and his family? That makes more sense, since I go to the University in Charles." I honestly wonder.
"Umm, well... I … I thought you would like to see Prince Wilfred again. And the distance between Chateau Philip and Charles University is the same from Edward's home." I could tell he wasn't expecting this question.
"Ah uh. Also, I heard that Noble Micheal requested that they take me in?" I ask him.
"Phoenix? What's with the twenty questions?" Uncle didn't like my line of questions.
"I've only asked you two. Did you know that I had met Noble Micheal?" I continue my investigation.
"How do you think I found out you were in Charles?" Uncle asks me in return. I wish he would just answer my questions straight, and not with another question!
"My mom didn't tell you?" I ask back.
"I only do my check-up calls twice a year, Phoenix. Your mother would write me a letter each month letting me know what was going on in your life. I just hadn't fully realized you were so close, until Noble Micheal called asking what my heir was doing in Charles." Uncle explained.
"Oh." I look down at the bed. I still wasn't sure why Uncle wanted me here. Other than to be close to Prince Wilfred. I couldn't help the smile that came to my face. Oh well, no one's here to see me. So who cares?
"But you're fine? Right, Phoenix?" Uncle asks, sounding worried.
"Yeah. I still have a missed call I need to return. So, I'll talk to you again soon." I promise.
"Alright. You better. Love you, Phoenix. Good bye for now."
"Love ya. Bye." I hang up and look at the unknown number. Who is this? I dial and wait for someone to answer.
"Hello, this is Detective Belrose. How can I help you?" I heard a male voice say.
"I had a missed call from you. This is Adele Hendrickson." I inform him. Detective? Maybe it's about the apartment.
"Yes, Miss Hendrickson! I'm glad to talk to you. I'm working on the case involving your apartment building." Detective Belrose answered.
"How's it going?" I ask truly curious.
"Well, … it was arson. And we were able to figure out that it was started in your room." He sounded worried.
"I was gone the whole night. I didn't get back until after the building was on fire, and ready to fall." I tell him, worried he thought I was behind it.
"You're not a suspect, Miss Hendrickson. There was a man spotted outside the building a few minutes before, and a neighbor reported hearing the sound of your window breaking. We believe the man aimed for your room, specifically. Do you know anyone who would want to harm you?" Detective Belrose asked.
A man. I only know one man who would want me dead... but he doesn't know I live in Charles... But if he's found out... Oh no! Oh no... NO! I got up from the bed and walked out onto my balcony. The panic attack was starting, I needed fresh air.
"Miss Hendrickson, are you alright?!"
"Just... give me... a … minute." I get out between breaths.
Once I calmed my heart and breathing. "You know someone?" The detective stated more than asked.
"Yes... I had a boyfriend. I haven't seen him since I graduated high school; which was almost three years ago. As far as I know, though, he has no idea I left America. I don't want him to find out where I am." I tell him, I can hear the fear in my voice and feel ashamed.
"Alright, if you give me his name I can search and see if he's traveled here. If not, I won't need to call him. If he did, I won't mention you. I promise." I can hear the sincerity in his voice.
"Gavin Tupper." I tell him. He asks me to spell it out and I comply.
"Other than this guy, is there anyone else who would want to hurt you?" The detective asks.
Anyone else? Well, I am a secret princess of a nation. If people knew that, then maybe... but I feel that no one else knows about me.
"Sorry, no one specific comes to mind. Though I do have some ties with the King of Noreric, so maybe someone who is unhappy there might have decided to take it out on me. Otherwise, I don't have any leads. I'm sorry." I tell him again.
"No, this is something. Thank you for being honest, and I'm sorry for making you worry about your ex. I swear to do my best, and keep him out of this if possible. Are you somewhere safe now?" He asks me.
"Yes, I'm currently staying in Philip with some friends. I have been given the week off from Charles University, so if I need to come in, it would be next week." I tell him.
"I'll let you know if that is necessary. Thank you, Miss Hendrickson, for your cooperation. Good-bye."
"Good-bye." I say and hang up. I turn my back to the railing and slowly lower myself into a crouching/sitting position trying to calm my nerves, I was frozen to that spot. The tears were flowing freely now, and I held a fist to my mouth so my sobs wouldn't be heard. I was completely unaware that someone saw my panic attack on the balcony, and that he was watching me now with a worried expression in his blue eyes.
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Once I was able to gain composure and move, I took a shower for the second time today. It was only 3 in the afternoon. Dinner wasn't for another three hours. I changed into a t-shirt and jeans for the time being. I knew Claude mentioned needing to dress differently for dinner, but I had no idea what exactly that meant. Other than, I don't want to dress that way now.
I poked my head out of my room. I needed to get out of my room, before I drove myself mad. I noticed the plants lining the hall didn't look good. Maybe I can ask Claude if I can take care of them? Later. I'll do that later.
I walked out into the hall with no actual purpose. Because I wasn't paying attention, I bumped into someone. Please don't let it be Claude. I 'm not in the mood to be on his bad side. I looked up and saw Prince Wilfred.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I wasn't paying attention." I quickly bowed my head.
"I wasn't either. I'm sorry. Could you not bow?" Prince Wilfred asked. When I raised my head and looked him in the eyes, he didn't seem like his usual emotionless self. Though, I couldn't tell what emotion he was trying to convey. Concern? Pity? Happy? Some mixture of those?
"Your Highness, I..." I didn't know what else to say. I bite my lip.
"Could you just call me Wilfred?" He asked with a small smile. Huh? That came out of nowhere. "You don't need to call me 'Your Highness'. It's only a title of my birth."
"But, I don't know if that would be -"
"Or would you want to call me by another name? I think it would make you feel more comfortable, and I would prefer you didn't call me by my title."
"Oh. Well, I know you don't like 'Wils'." I saw shock on his face, maybe because I noticed it from the ball last night. "'Fred' really doesn't fit you." I say shaking my head with a grin. "So I feel 'Prince Wilfred' should suffice. I wouldn't feel right completely ignoring the fact that you're a prince."
"That will be better." He said with a smile. I suddenly see concern in his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"Are you psychic or something? Although, I lost my home and most of my belonging, so of course I wouldn't be fine." I say trying to keep from the conversation topic of the arson and my ex.
"I saw you out on the balcony while I was out in the garden. Did something else happen?" His eyes shone with true concern.
Damn! I thought no one saw that. That's embarrassing. "I was talking to a detective looking into the fire. He told me that it was arson, and that my room was the starting place. So, either I was the target or it was just a coincidence that it was mine and not someone else's window; which is what I would hope for." I tell him most of the truth. I put my head down.
"That's awful. If you were targeted, you'll be safe here." Prince Wilfred said kindly yet with firm resolve. Then I felt a hand on my head, softly patting me. Huh? I look up into his smiling face. It feels so natural. Why did my heart start to race when he touched me? "I need to go do some things before dinner." He started to leave.
"Prince Wilfred?" I call. It felt right calling him this. He stopped and turned. "About dinner. How formal am I supposed to dress?" I ask him tentatively.
He gives me another small smile and laughs a little. "More formal than how you were dressed for brunch, but less than how you were dressed for the ball last night."
"Okay. I don't think you could have been anymore cryptic. Though, I think I have an idea. Thank you. I'll let you go now. See you later." I joke with him, and turn to leave down the hall.
I hear him quietly say, "Later, Phoenix."
I smile to myself as I make my way to where I remember the entrance to the gardens being. I was going to just go outside and try to distract myself by looking at all of nature's beauty for a while.
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I decided to wear a red satin knee-length dress. It had a sweetheart neckline with straps that went below my shoulders, and the skirt flared out. I really liked it.
Dinner was nice. The King and Queen talked about their day and asked Prince Wilfred about his day. I just quietly ate and listened, unless asked a question. It was a nice distraction.
~)~~~~
When I got back to my room, my phone started ringing. Huh?This is … I grabbed the phone and answered. "Hello."
"Good evening, my dear. How are things at the Spencer household?" The man asked.
"It's nice. Though, I wasn't expecting the Noble Micheal to ask the Spencers to allow me to stay with them." I tell him.
"You found out. Sorry, I forgot to mention it when we met." Noble Micheal apologized.
"It's fine. How are you?" I ask him, remembering how sick he was when we met.
"You truly are a kind soul. I'm doing better, but less about me and more about you." Noble Micheal answers.
"That's good to hear. I really don't know how to thank you, for asking them to take me in." I tell him.
"No need to thank me. You saved my life. It was my way of returning the favor." Noble Micheal says matter-o-factly.
"Really, I didn't really do anything. It was something anyone should have done." I tell him.
"Yet, I stood there in a coughing fit for around ten minutes before you showed up. No one bothered asking if I was alright. It's the world we live in. So to have found a stranger with such a good heart, who is a princess, no less... You see what I mean, Phoenix?" Lord Noble informed me.
"I see what you mean. But I still feel that I should thank you in some way, because words don't seem to be enough." I tell him.
"I see you aren't going to let this go. So, how about you call me 'Mike'? I would really prefer it." Mike says happily.
"Alright, Mike. If that's what you want." I say with a smile. He reminds me of my grandfather; once he gets an idea, no changing his mind.I'm the same way.
"Yes. It makes me feel good to have a pretty young girl, like yourself, call me 'Mike'. I feel young again." Mike laughs.
I laugh with him. "So you knew when we first met that I was the princess of Noreric?" I ask him remembering him mentioning it earlier.
"When I saw the Eye of Odin, I knew. Then it made sense, and it felt like fate that we were supposed to meet that day." Mike said.
"Are you trying to pick me up, Mike?" I ask jokingly.
Mike laughed. "Not anything of the sort. Besides, I think you'll have enough attention from the princes, especially Prince Wilfred."
"Maybe." I say.
"Maybe? What's that supposed to mean?" Mike asked like a girlfriend. I laughed at the thought.
"Well, he's hard to read sometimes. I feel like he's holding so much in, that its hard to see the real Prince Wilfred." I tell him honestly.
"What about the times you could get a read on him?" Mike asks.
"He seemed kind and sweet." I say thinking of Prince Wilfred.
"That's who Prince Wilfred is. You're right that he holds things in, but I think you'll be able to help him open up more. Look at the time! I need to retire for the night, and I'm sure you need your rest also."
"You're right. Good night, Mike." I say softly.
"Good night, Princess Phoenix." Mike replied before hanging up.
And that was how my first day in Philip with the Spencers went.
What did you guys think? Hope you liked it. Let me know what you thought, any comments, and/or ideas. I would love to hear from you! Until Chapter 4!