Sister of the Earl

Chapter 1 - Rosalyn

I woke with a splitting headache, and dripping in a cold sweat. I had that nightmare again, the one about my home on fire, and my parents burning...

I sat up, and rub my temples, trying to massage away the figurative nail in my brain. As I fixed my bangs over my right eye, for it had come undone as I tossed and turned, I heard a familiar voice next to my bed.

"Good morning, Mistress. You look like you've had a nightmare," he closed his red eyes and smiled. "Which one are you this morning?"

"Rosalyn." I stretched, and then yawned. "What time is it? I'd hope it was before twelve in the afternoon, because I have plans for today."

"It's seven-thirty, Lady Rosalyn. In the morning. Rather early for milady's taste, if you ask me. Did you have that nightmare again?" He answered, tailing a question to his statement. He knew I hated when he did that.

"Yes. Yes, I did." I yawned again, and swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet touching the carpeted floor. "Ah, well. I guess it doesn't hurt to get an early start since I'm up." I looked up at the butler. "Do you mind making breakfast Luce? I'm absolutely famished. I'd make it myself, but your pancakes are better that anything I could whip up." I muttered the last part rather sheepishly, and stood up.

"Yes, Rosie," he said, flashing me a white half-smirk, purposely using my nickname to irritate me. It didn't, because I simply refused to get upset today.

Because today was the day I would visit my brother for the firsttime in two years.

I walked over to the small walk in closet on the opposite side of my room and sifted through my clothes. The majority of it were boys clothes, pants and shirts, but that didn't matter. They were easier to move in, and I only wore dresses on rare occasions.

I guessed today better be one of those occasions.

I grabbed a corset and a midnight blue and black evening gown and tried my best to make myself look presentable. I walked over to my makeup table that I barley used and struggled to braid my hair. Lucifer saw me and walked over and assisted me. He left my bangs hanging, because we were out of bandages, and a spiral of hair curled from behind my ear loosely, and started to pin my braid around a bun on the back of my head. When he proceeded to do my makeup, I started feeling weighed down, so I only allowed lip gloss and mascara.

I check my reflection and almost gasp. "Luce! So you're, what? A hairstylist, a makeup artist, and a great butler? Geez!" Luce grinned, and tucked my bangs behind my ear. I blinked, and my seal, my green eye with Luce's mark, flashed from beneath the curtain of hair that was pulled back.

"No. For you, I'm simply one hell of a butler. You know this." He smiled warmly at me, and wrapped his arms around me. Even though he was a thousand year old demon, he looked seventeen. And he was really cute too...

No, Rose. This is the boy who is going to eat my soul. GET YOURSELF TOGETHER, GIRL!

I shrugged him off, and stood abruptly. "Get the carriage ready, please, Luce. I want to get to the manor by noon."

He bowed, "Yes, Mistress." He exited the room and I held my head, a splitting pain ripping through my thoughts.

Mine. He will be mine. MINE. You can't stop me, Rosalyn. YOU CAN'T.

I dropped down to my knees as my face contorted in pain. Stay away Thorn. Keep out of my head.

NEVER. This body is MINE.