BLOOD CROWN: 002

Roxanne's mouth hit the floor.

"Come on, Mom, it's my birthday today, I promise to be back before 10 p.m." Gosh, she wasn't even a child anymore. She was 19 and in college!

For some reason, Roxanne could read the tyranny in her Mother's brown eyes and it was escalating with each ticking second, followed by the continual twitch of her fingers that she was attempting to hide. Roxanne didn't need to be a genius to know something was going on.

"You can't leave this house tonight. T-they are going to come for you; you can never step out!" Mrs. McKenna's breath hitched with every word. For once, she wished things would go her way. It has been 19 years, why now? Why ever?

Roxanne's lips slightly parted in disbelief and quickly, her brown eyes went to her Father, who, compared to his wife, was still acting rational. "They? What's going on, Dad? Who's coming for me?"

She didn't want to inquire but she wasn't fooled by their behavior which started a few months ago. They were constantly on the edge, peering at the entrance or windows as if some supernatural forces were about to surge in. Roxanne wanted to know what was going on but at the same time she didn't, because regardless, she was still going to attend the party.

Life was far too short to not take chances.

Mr. McKenna quickly drew his wife back. If they continue at this rate, the whole neighborhood would find out their little secret. "Nobody is coming, Roxie. Your mom is just going through something right now and it will do her a lot of good if you return to your room."

Roxanne opened her mouth to protest but he beat her to it. "We know you're 19 and an adult and in college but you're not going."

Roxie bit her tongue to stop any more protest. Her eyes flitted between them with her lips firmly planted to the ground in sheer disbelief. They were being unfair! What the hell were they so afraid of? She sighed in dissatisfaction, turned around, and retraced her steps to her room.

However, a light bulb lit up in her head, and she abruptly reversed her course and proceeded to her older sister's room. She didn't knock and instead stormed in, finding Savannah sprawled out on her bed.

"What the hell, Roxie, can't I have a moment of peace?" Savannah rolled on the bed and thrashed her legs like a child throwing a trauma. Why the fuck did she get siblings? There was always someone barging in as if they owed her space too.

Roxie rolled her eyes. Why was she the oldest of them? "Savannah, Dad's calling you downstairs right now."

Savannah jerked herself to a seated posture. "Why, I swear I haven't killed Niran or Ravi yet!" She grieved hysterically while running her fingers through her brown hair and pulled herself from the bed. She stormed out of the room, not forgetting to throw one last glare at Roxie.

So f*cking dramatic! As soon as the door closed behind her, Roxie snarled and hurried to the window, sliding it open.

Savannah's room, unlike hers, was the perfect place to sneak out without fracturing all of her limbs. She swiftly removed her shoes and tossed them out the window before leaping out with a triumphant laugh.

*~*

"What took you so damn long?!" Gianna snapped as soon as Roxie sat in the front passenger seat, a little winded from sprinting and jumping out a bloody window.

Roxie used her hand to fan herself. It was scorchingly hot. "My parents won't let me out, so I hopped out Savannah's window."

Gianna laughed, her bright eyes holding glee. Her best friend was a wild one. She turned on the AC and started the engine of the car.

"You unruly little shit!"

Roxie laughed out loud; her brown eyes gleaming with excitement as she watched the road ahead being illuminated by street lights. It was only 8 pm, why was the damn street so quiet? "I'm a free bird, and I despise being confined, especially on my 19th birthday. Fuck. I'm excited to start living on my own!"

As much as Roxie wouldn't want to be away from her family, she'd always longed for freedom like a prisoner who hadn't seen the rays of sunshine in years. She, too, wanted an exploration of something new, and living on her own in college was the first step.

"Let's Party, Bitch!"

*~*

When they arrived, the party was in full swing; most of the guests were on the dance floor, while others were either inebriated out of their wits or conversing with their friends. Roxie tried not to grimace at the repugnant smell of sweat and vomit in the air. Who the fuck starts a party without the celebrant?

"Where's Ryker, I haven't seen him yet?" She screamed to Gianna over the clamorous, annoying thing called music while extending her neck, searching for the familiar face of her nine-month-old boyfriend amid the crowd. “I’ll go find him,”

Gianna shook her head as Roxie started leaving before she could respond. With a tsk, Gianna made herself towards the dance floor.

Fortunately, it didn't take long to locate Ryker in the kitchen, but Roxie wished she hadn't when she came to a standstill in her boots. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach at the sight of Ryker sucking the face of some bitch she recognized as one of the cheerleaders on her college basketball team. Her jaw clenched and her eyes became as keen as a sword. Fucking bastard!

"Ryker!"

She watched as he bolted away from the girl perplexed and his blue eyes expanded as they settled on her. "Fuck!" He muttered. "Baby, it's not what it looks like, I swear."

It was always those six little words whenever they got caught. Before Roxie could speak, the little bitch opened her mouth.

"It's exactly what it looks like, Roxie. Ryker here came whimpering for sex his girlfriend refused to give him and I'm more than happy to deliver."

As the words sank in, Roxie wrestled everything in her as her hands balled into fists, battling the impulse to stride forward and throttle the bitch to death, but as she blinked and took a breath, the surge of rage was gone, replaced by a spiteful drive. Her lips curved into a sneer, and something strange illuminated in her eyes.

"Is that so, Gloria? Tell me more."