Rise of the Queen
Chapter 10

Tyler had gone to make his round on the National Forensic Bureau and Reagan and few others went to meet the chief of the police. Meanwhile, Lia, Kevin, Murphy, Conner, and Alexa had been hanging out in the mall nearby.

"Ah, it's been so long! Those pretty dresses....those pretty heels...." Conner admired through the large window pane. She then looked at her reflection, messy hair, plain clothes, and muddy sneakers. She then looked at her hands, broken nails, dirty hands.

"I'm definitely going to spoil myself," She nodded as she made her way into the shop.

Murphy's eyes wandered around and then stopped at the arcade, "Ohhh! I missed my life!" He yelled excitedly as he ran to the arcade in a blink.

"Gee! Don't run like that!" Lia ran after him and before he could enter inside, she caught him by his collar and dragged him back.

"No! Please!" Murphy begged.

"No, stick together so we don't have trouble keeping an eye on you guys. We're still being chased, remember? You're still not safe." Lia scolded him. "But-"

"We'll go there after she finishes here." Lia pointed at Conner who had been choosing her clothes.

"You know what it's like when Conner starts her shopping. That's going to take forever!" he complained.

"Then go help her, that'd be faster?" She suggested.

"Meanie!" He sulked.

"Whatever," She rolled her eyes, "Now, let's go inside," She opened the door and pushed him inside. Turning to Alexa and Kevin who were just standing outside, she gestured, "come on guys, what are you waiting for?" After trying out a few dresses, Conner stared at the other dresses lined up in a row, "hmm," She tapped her finger against her chin.

"What's wrong? Hurry up will you?" Her brother nagged from behind.

Meanwhile, Lia too looked at a few dresses for herself and went inside the changing room, Kevin fished a dress out, knocking on her door, he hung it outside Lia's changing room and quietly walked away.

Lia opened the door, popping her head out, she looked around but there was no one, her eyes then fell on the dress hung on the doorknob, she shrugged as she fished the dress inside and shut the door. After finalising her clothes, she also picked out a few clothes for her best friend who just stood there uninterested, "Here," She handed them to Alexa.

Alexa was about to protest but before that she was pushed inside the dressing room and the door shut right behind her.

Heaving a sigh, Alexa stared into the mirror, slowly she took out a phone from her pocket and stared at the blank screen, her mind ran back to yesterday's conversation she had with Carla. "Human world?" She asked.

"Yes, the human world," Carla looked at her suggestively, with a smirk she then fished out a phone from her pocket and shoved in Alexa's hand.

Alexa raised a brow at her.

"I like the look on your face, now, after you leave tomorrow, don't come back, hmm?" Carla placed a hand on her shoulder.

Alexa narrowed her eyes at her.

"I'll help you run away, so make sure you never ever come back here," Carla closed the distance between them and whispered in her ear.

Alexa heaved a deep sigh clutching the phone, she was about to turn the phone on when she heard a knock outside her door, "Aren't you done yet?" She heard Lia's voice from outside. Placing the phone quickly inside her pocket, "coming," She answered.

****

"I'm just confused," Conner said as she looked at the marvelous collection of the brands in front of her.

"Great!" Murphy rolled his eyes, he was growing impatient, this was such a great opportunity, he could have spent his entire day inside the arcade room but he was stuck here because of his dear sister, "Conner!" he whined as his sister stood there confused. Just then something struck his mind, "Excuse me?" He called out to the salesgirl, "We'll take it all, thank you," He smiled at the girl.

Conner turned around and blinked at her brother, "EEE!" She squealed, "You're really my brother, you know me too well, thanks," She beamed with happiness as she hugged him tightly.

"I know, I know," He smiled proudly, "now, what next?" He asked.

"Shoes," She broke the hug and clasped her hands as she looked at the collection of the shoes, "I love those heels," She pointed out.

"No," Murphy shook his head.

"Heh?" Conner frowned, "Why not?" She stamped her feet whining.

"Buy something wearable, we're going back to the countryside and a few more training awaits us, so that's definitely a no, no," He moved his index finger sideways. "But-" Conner tried to protest.

"Buy it next time," Murphy told her firmly, "now what next?" He asked her.

She pouted sulkily but her face brightened up when she saw the nail spa right across the shop, "My nails," She wiggled her fingers in front of his face.

"What are you wasting your time for then?" He grabbed her by her shoulder and they went inside the nail shop, "Here, manicure."

After an hour, Conner smiled satisfactorily at her pretty nails.

"Happy? Now, are we done?" He asked her.

"My face... it's been so long, I need a facial and my hair too," she added.

"Come on, Conner!" he complained.

"What? Just look at me, I finally get a day, I want topsoil myself," She pouted sulkily.

"So do I," He complained.

She heaved a sigh, "Okay fine," She nodded hesitantly.

"Thanks," His face brightened up, "Now my turn," He looked at Lia.

"Okay, boss." Lia nodded.

"Finally!" he rushed out.

"Hey! Don't run!" Lia shouted but Murphy was already gone, Kevin shrugged as he followed him.

"I'm coming too," Conner rushed after them.

Lia heaved a sigh, "These two," She shook her head, a small smile played on her lips, she then glanced at Alexa, "You don't have something you want to do?" "Hmm... yes, washroom," Alexa nodded.

"Lol Alex. That's not what I meant, you don't need to ask us for that, go ahead." Lia laughed.

"Thanks," Alexa was about to go but she stopped and looked at Lia, "Lee..." Alexa muttered, Lia's face glowed up as she heard her bff calling her name like before, "yes?" Lia replied. Alexa pursed her lips tight as she hesitated, Lia looked on, Alexa then shook her head and walked away from there.

"Whoop! Whoop!" Conner cheered as she was winning the game.

"In your dreams, baby sister," Murphy smirked as he geared up zooming his car right past hers, making her car go spinning round and round and finally sending it outside the race track. "Hey!" Conner complained, removing her VRbox, getting off her seat she dragged Murphy out of his, his car barely made it to the end grabbing the 1st place. "Conner!" Murphy shouted at his sister removing his VR box.

"I didn't get to go to the spa," She complained.

The bickered over the game and the spa things, Tyler poked his head in between, they both screamed out, startled by his presence.

"Ow! Ow!" Tyler cried in pain as the twin attacked him, "Hey, hey, weren't you guys fighting each other? Now you're ganging up on me? Not fair," He complained. "Well," the twins shrugged as they looked at each other, then they both laughed out, giving each other a high five.

"What were you arguing about anyway?" Tyler asked

"I wanted to go to the spa but he wanted to play games." She replied.

"And?" Tyler frowned.

"Lia asked us to stick together, so we can only do one thing at a time," Murphy explained.

"That's it?" Tyler laughed, he then turned to Conner, "Come, I'll take you wherever you want," he told her.

"Really?" Conner's eyes sparkled.

"Really," He nodded.

"Ty, you're truly the bestest best friend," Conner pulled him into a tight hug.

"Hmm, no need to butter me up," he laughed.

"It's true though," she grinned, linking their arms together, "let's go!" She cheered.

"Hmm, Tyler really does favor her," Murphy nodded.

"Of course," Kevin looked on with a knowing smile on his face.

"Ah, my game!" Murphy rushed back to his game.

***

Entering the arcade room, Lia searched for her friends, spotting them at a corner, she joined them.

"Where is Alex?" Kevin asked, not seeing the person in question.

"Washroom," She replied.

"You shouldn't leave her alone" Kevin told her.

"Seriously?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"You should be with her, Reagan thinks she's up to something and I second that, she's been acting weird." he warned her.

"Like?" Lia raised her brows.

"I asked Murphy before, they are here in the human world and she hasn't even brought the topic of contacting his parents and... she's being too much of a good girl."

"Now that you mentioned it." She nodded, Alexa didn't give them looks, didn't pass any taunt, she was weirdly too cooperative.

"Fine, I'll go after her." She nodded as she went out but just then she knocked into someone.

***

Alexa was pacing inside the washroom, "What do I do?" She stared at the phone in her hand.

She was about to press the button to switch it on but decided against it.

Again she paced, "Argh! I don't know!" She ran her hands through her hair, "Don't be stupid, Alex. This is your only chance to escape" She told herself. "...But" She paused, "where?" She stamped her feet in frustration. "It's not like I can ask someone for help. Even the hunter association is cooperating with them." She sighed, remembering the conversation between Murphy and Tyler about how Murphy lied to her about his parents agreeing to help them out instead they were giving their full support.

She scratched her hair, "Maybe it's really safe with them... well... up until now I was...I don't even have a place to go..." She closed her eyes as she remembered the tragic night that turned her life upside down, opening her eyes, she shook her head, "okay...Scrap it all. Let's just go back," She fished the phone back into her jeans pocket and stared at her reflection in the mirror. "Let's not regret it, hmm?"

After finally coming to a decision, she came out but something was strange, she paused, there was no one, she blinked and turned around, not a single human being at sight. "What the hell?" She frowned.

She then heard a few footsteps from her behind she turned around to see a few people wearing a long black cloak, their faces were hidden by the hood, they stopped a few inches away from her, her heart sped up as they slowly unveiled, she could spot their fangs, one of them stepped forward, with his every step, she took one backward, "We can talk..." Her voice trembled.

"I'm really not what you think I am. I am no Queen, I'm just a normal human, trust me."..."Can't you guys let me go?" She smiled nervously.

He continued to approach her, "I guess not?" She gulped, she then without wasting a second made a run. One of them was about to chase her but the vampire in the middle raised his hand, instructing him to let her go, "it's more fun this way." He smirked.

***

After not replaceing Alexa inside the washroom, Lia ran to Kevin, "This is bad. She's gone." She said catching her breath.

"Shit." Kevin cursed under his breath.

"They were here, someone knocked into me and they impersonated her, by the time I realized it, she was gone." Just as she said it, she felt it, the piercing, burning gaze, she didn't have to turn around to know that was her brother. She bit her lips slowly turning around.

"You guys had just one job." The Alpha King roared, his eyes then shifted at the Vampire beside his sister, "Kevin! I thought you wouldn't disappoint me."

"I lost her. It was my fault." She shielded her mate from her brother's glare.

"I'll come to you later," Reagan glared at her, "I can't feel her presence." Reagan was so mad that the aura was crushing them, "She's in another dimension" He growled as his eyes changed their color.