BLOOD CROWN: 004

Roxanne's eyes sprang wide when she felt constant bouncing on her bed. Roxie grumbled; her foggy vision dropping on her 6-year-old brat of a brother. What the hell! She grunted and rolled onto her side, hiding herself behind the sheets and pillows.

"Stop it, Alex!"

She simply wanted to sleep—it was like death without commitment, but the world had other intent, as the covers were quickly ripped from her body. Roxie jolted up straight.

"Alex!" She warned with a glare, but the little demon laughed, got off the bed, and ran out of her bedroom without closing the door behind him.

"ALEX!"

She was going murder that little rogue! She exhaled and combed her fingers through her unkempt black hair. Just because her life wasn't so straight anymore, didn't mean her hair had to suffer the same cause.

"Roxanne!"

Roxie held back a grunt as Savannah appeared at the door frame with a vexed expression. She moved in. "Oh, you're still asleep, it's noon baby sister," There was something icy in her tone that she wasn't attempting to disguise. She looked at Roxie like a butcher would a piece of meat.

Roxie recoiled to the wall of the bed, away from her crazy sister.

"You tricked me last night to go to that party, didn't ya?” Oh much Savannah would love to strangle the living daylights of her. Having siblings was fun until they tried to outwit you!

"It was my birthday party, there's no way I was going to miss it, Savannah!" Roxie blurted and clasped her knees to her chest—the events of the party came hurrying back. "It was a disaster anyway. This has been my worst birthday ever, but I'm not crying over it; he's not worth my tears. It is his loss, not mine."

"Oh, you finally ended your relationship with Ryker. You know from the first day I met that guy, I didn't like him at all." Savannah tsked and reached out to stroke Roxie's hair. "Trust me, little sis, there are plenty of fishes in the sea, I'm sure you are going to find a better boyfriend." She smiled and withdrew her hand. "Anyway, that would be one hundred bucks."

Roxie's head jerked up. “Why?”

“First, for tricking me last night and sneaking out despite Mom and Dad’s warning. Second, I covered for you last night to avoid a search party. You best pay up, little sis, if you don't want me to run my mouth in front of our parents and have yourself grounded for the rest of your life."

She scowled. "Why are you here at home, Savannah? Shouldn't you be at school?" They didn't share the same college—there were a lot of things they didn't share.

Savannah held out her palm instead of responding. With a groan, Roxie got out of bed, reached into her pajamas pocket, and handed her a bill. Some sister she had.

Savannah beamed. “It was nice doing business with you, little sis. Now tell me you didn't lose your V-card to that jerk? I'm going to have the lads beat him up."

"No."

"That's fortunate." Savannah shrugged, less work for her. "Anyway, if you're hungry, you'll have to go to the grocery store. The boys emptied the refrigerator. And Mom and Dad aren't home to baby you. Sorry,” she turned and exited the room.

Roxie glanced at her alarm clock, it was really noon. With a sigh, she fell back flat on her bed and lamented with a single drop of tear.

Worst birthday ever.

*~*

Roxie yawned as she proceeded down the flights of stairs. She'd slept till midday but felt still groggy and wanted to return to the warmth of her bed, but her grumbling stomach was a reminder that she wasn't a vampire, but a human who required food to stay alive. If vampires existed.

Anyway, she decided to join the rest of her family, clad in knee-ripped jeans and an enormous hoodie sweater she stole from her oldest brother's bedroom. He'd never find out as long as he stayed in his apartment and was preoccupied with running the company to discover his clothes missing.

Roxie entered the living room but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the person using his phone while lounging on the sofa. Oh, no!

She bit her lip, a plan to flee already formulating in her thoughts, but as if he could sense her presence, he turned his head around and their eyes locked instantly before his brown eyes drifted down to her shirt, Shit!

"Why the heck are you wearing my shirt?" He exclaimed.

Roxie anxiously giggled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It seemed like her luck was getting rotten recently. "Matt, what are you doing at home? Shouldn't you be at work or your condo? Does Dad know you're lazing around?"

"No, and that doesn't shed light on why you are wearing my shirt," He tilted his head, giving her a lookover; she looked cute but he would never tell her that. Then his eyes widened as realization hit. "How many of my sweatshirts have you stolen and I didn't notice?"

Roxie chuckled under her breath. Too many, but he didn't need to know that.

"Hey, I need to go to the food store; see ya, big bro,"

She didn't wait for his response, dashing to the kitchen, grabbed an apple, and dashed out the door, failing to hear the fond chuckle.

That was close.

*~*

Have you ever felt as if you were being followed? Yes, Roxie felt it the instant she walked out of the grocery shop with a couple of bags of groceries. However, she opted to disregard it, without giving it much thought, and continued home, which proved to be her worst mistake. Damnit! She knew she should have brought a car instead of walking!

Roxie strolled down the pavement, the sensation becoming stronger till it twisted her insides into knots and she couldn't ignore it any longer. She veered her head back and a gasp made its way to her throat at the sight of a guy in a black hoodie traipsing hidden.

Oh no! She was going to die! Roxie shrieked in her mind, realizing she was in a relatively quiet neighborhood. Fuck! What was going to happen? Get murdered, get slaughtered—same shit, but she couldn't think straight. She quickened her pace but unintentionally collided with something substantial.

She gasped and raised her head to see a pair of golden eyes fixed on her.

Roxie knew she was fucked!