Little Of Loure

4- New Home

20 minutes. 

That's how long Abby had been crying since their journey back home started. Lincoln was sat next to her in her car as she banged her little fist on the window, begging to be let out. His shirt was covered in tears and drool from trying to get her away from the door.

When Ben sat her down in the car she was still asleep. The minute he closed the door she had woken up from the slam and realized what was happening. Her eyes carried betrayal when she looked at the man. How could this happen. She was going to be given away to a monster. Far from her friends in the corporation.

Lincoln had tried everything to stop her from screaming her lungs out but she hadn't budge. Her cries lowered when she saw the unfamiliar road ahead. There was no more turning back. It's was pointless at this point. Her little body decided to curl up on the floor of the car facing away from Lincoln, hugging cotton close to her chest. Her sobs were still loud, but the screams died down.

'Abbygirl, I wish you would see that I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to protect you.'

Abby didn't reply. She hadn't spoken any word other then 'no' since their journey. Lincoln sighed and looked out the window.

'There's a road block ahead your highness. Our journey to the penthouse will be delayed.' the guard in the passenger seat stated.

'For f**k sake.' he whispered. Moving to the city was an exciting step for Lincoln, but he was still yet to get used to the traffic that comes with it. Even with the privilege lane that the Royal Crested car get to use, it was still tiresome especially on a hard day like this.

He caught a glimpse of the road ahead and looked down at Abby who had tired herself out, sucking on her thumb.

'Abby, we're gonna be in the car for a while. Are you hungry? Lincoln can make you a bottle.' he asked, refraining from referring to himself as 'Daddy'. She seemed too frazzled at the moment to be able to accept a piece of information like that. Abby looked at him with red eyes and quivering lips. Still refusing to answer.

'Here, why don't you just drink some water. You're gonna dehydrate yourself with all the screaming you've done.' he said and reached into the bag that came with her. It had two bottles, one with milk and one with water. There was also a binky in there, and an extra pull-up. Lincoln chose the bottle with water and slowly passed it to her which she merely looked wearily.

'I won't bite, love. I promise. Just take the bottle.' he gently smiled.

Abby looked at him for a few more seconds before reaching out to grasp the water. She gasped slightly when her fingers touched Lincoln's, which she quickly withdrew snatching the bottle and curling it to her chest before drinking it.

Lincoln chuckled a little and moved his eyes away, giving her privacy to finish her drink. It seemed like a small thing but Abby appreciated it.

'Edgar. How's the situation.' Lincoln asked the front.

'It's starting to clear up sir. We should arrive in half an hour.'

'Alright.' Lincoln smiled. 'Abby we will be home soon.' he turned to the thirsty girl who is fully distracted by the bottle now. He didn't know if it's right to refer to his house as her home, but for now, it's best for her to think that it was since she will be living there for a while. Her perception of his penthouse should be of a safe one. A place she could call hers.

When the elevator dinged the two men holding Abby's suitcase walked out first and went to unlock the big doors right outside it. Lincoln turned to the crouching little on the elevator floor.

'Come on, sweetheart.' Lincoln said, bending down to go pick her up which she flinched.

Lincoln ignored it and picked her up. Abby did seem to calm down a little since the car. Her body would still tense up whenever Lincoln or any of the guards would go near her but she has stopped the screaming. Her eyes were puffy but there were no new tears.

He carried her into the house and let her down immediately, not wanting to subject her to any further torture in his arms.

'Welcome home, Abby.' Lincoln smiled down at her. Abby looked around the huge living room, looking for a spot where she could run to hide. But the space was rather minimal. It was a very classy setting with little to no clutter. The decor was kept simple and elegant. Abby sighed out at her failed attempt at finding a hiding spot. Lincoln noticed her wondering eyes and walked forward.

'Would you like a tour of the place, at least? Then we can have dinner after.'

Abby ignored him and played with the hem of her skirt, fidgeting around. She still wasn't sure about the prince. Lincoln sighed out loud and bent down to her level.

'Abby I don't expect you to trust me right now. But I promise you, I would never hurt you. I am doing this for your safety. Ben told me what was going to happen to you if you weren't adopted. I don't agree with that as much as Ben does. So I need you to be able to trust me on this.'

Abby finally looked up at Lincoln. Would he really prioritize her safety? She didn't have a choice right now. Ben is still a human at the end of the day. He didn't stand a chance with the scary vampires in the blood bank. But Lincoln, he is powerful. With his royal bloodline and status, he could keep her safe.

'Hurt me?' she asked in her little voice.

'No, Abby.' Lincoln assures her. Her face was still skeptical which made Lincoln sighed out loud. Turning to find the last box of her stuff that the guards hadn't transported into the nursery that he prepared. He walked towards it and bent down, searching inside the bottles and clothes.

Abby waited patiently until her eyes saw the familiar blue cotton blanket being pulled out by the prince's big hands. Immediately she ran and snatched it from him before he could even fully run around.

'Hey!' Lincoln yelped. Abby hugs it close to her and crouched down.

Lincoln calmed down and bent to her level.

'I didn't mean to yell. But that was very rude. You can't snatch things from people like that, okay?' he said with a softer voice, moving his arms up to caress her hair.

'I've got some rules that I will tell you about later on okay. Right now, let's do that tour.' he said with a smile and stood up.

The tour lasted around 20 minutes with Lincoln showing the little every room and every crevice of the space. His living conditions were privileged, to say the least. Everything looked expensive and well maintained. The place was decorated with beautiful paintings on the walls, which Lincoln had proudly claimed to be his work and also multiple plants that Abby was far more interested in.

Turns out one of Lincoln's hobbies was caring for plants and fishes. He had an outdoor balcony area where there was a wide pond with tetras and koi fishes in it, surrounded by even more greens. Giving it a rain forest appearance. Abby loved the garden balcony very much.

'Let's go see our rooms.' Lincoln said when Abby didn't want to leave the fishes. She pouted and waved a small goodbye to the plants and animals which Lincoln found adorable. He placed a hand on her back and led her back indoors.

The couple walked down a hallway and reached a black door. It was shiny and encrusted with beautiful patterns. And to their right was an identical one. Lincoln reached for the doorknob and opened it to reveal a bright room.

Abby entered and instantly felt warmth, very different from the rest of the house.

'This is your bedroom, Abby. I prepared it so that it has everything you need in here.' he said and moved further into the room. The walls were a beautiful pale green color. Abby smiled at that. The window was very big, covering one-third of one of the walls, with beautiful white drapes hanging over it.

Lincoln moved to a drawer and opened it showing Abby what was inside.

'Here are all the clothes that I had someone get for you. Don't worry, I will dress you if you aren't comfortable with the helpers being near you.' Abby simply stayed silent. 

'Abby, if there is anything you would like to have, you just have to tell me okay? I will have someone get it for you.' Lincoln said and bent down to her level. They both looked at each other for a while.

'Fishy.' Abby said.

Lincoln laughed at her statement. 'I'll get you whatever fish you want. Anything else?' 

Abby shook her head and smiled.

'Okay. Do you want to go see my room now?' he asked and Abby reluctantly nodded. She had loosened up to him a lot more now than before. Lincoln felt happy about that. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Lincoln opened the door and waited until Abby walked out of there before closing it. He moved his hands to the other one and entered the room followed by Abby.

The prince's chambers were classy and basic. He didn't have many decorations in there. A big bed sat in the middle of the room with two bedside tables covered in white sheets. A door sat to the left of the space which led to an en-suite.

'Darling, this is my room. You can come in here anytime you want, alright. If you can't find me in the garden then I'll probably be here.' Lincoln explained.

'If you have nightmares at night I don't want you to be scared. All you have to do is come here and you can sleep with me.'

Abby nodded and hugged cotton to her chest.

'That concludes the tour. Why don't you go freshen up in your room and meet me in the living room? I'll go over your rules then.'

Lincoln smiled and led her back to her nursery where he left her and closed the door.