Claiming Her Birth Right

**** Prologue*** As the smoke cleared, Myah looked around. A few of their warriors were dead. Her heart ached for the loss of their lives. Myah shifted back into her human form. She was not wearing clothes, but she didn't care. She was carrying the head of the Rogue King. The Rogues howled at the loss of their King. Some of them ran into the woods, and some of them bowed in submission. The Rogue King and the vampire's blood covered her mouth and body. She hated the metallic taste. Myah turned to look for her family. " Where is Lawrence?" She yelled. When she looked around, she saw Lawrence on his knees. She tossed the Rogue King's head to the side. No! She screamed, running to him. She cried out to the moon goddess in pain. The battle was not supposed to end like this. *** The Beginning **** Myah sat in her social worker's office, awaiting her fate. She knew that even though this was not her fault, she would still be treated as if it were. She shifted in her seat and fidgeted as she waited. Myah had just turned 17 the day before. It didn't matter because no one cared. She went all day hoping someone, anyone, would say "Happy Birthday" to her. When she realized it wouldn't come, she spent the rest of her birthday crying in her room. Myah had lived in multiple foster homes since she was five years old. Myah had never met her father, but she often dreamed of who he was and why he had left. Her mother dropped her off at social services when she was five and never came back. Myah never knew why. She knew she must have been pretty bad for her mother to abandon her. Since then, she has been in at least ten different foster homes, leaving each one a little more broken than when she arrived. Myah was lost in her thoughts, knowing she had tried her hardest this time. She followed all the rules and always did what her foster parents requested of her. There were a total of seven kids in the home. She had a room in the attic, and she liked it that way. She didn't have to interact with anyone unless it was required or in passing. The night prior, she was in her room, asleep. When her foster brother Matthew woke her, he had crawled into her bed, kissing her on her neck. He had her arms pinned above her head. He whispered he was going to make her "his" in her ear. Myah lay there, scared, for a few seconds (although it felt like hours). When Matthew put his hand under her shirt, she knew what he meant. Myah became angry that he would touch her intimately without her permission. She broke one of her arms free and punched Matthew on the side of his face. Matthew cried out in pain and began screaming, "Help!" She could hear her foster parents running up the stairs. When they entered the room, they yelled at her, "What did you do?" Myah was dumbfounded. What do you mean? What did I do? She screamed through her tears. Can't, you see, he's in my room? Matthew told his parents that Myah asked him to come to her bedroom and then attacked him once he got there. Everyone left believing Myah had played a sick joke on Matthew. Myah just stopped crying. She knew her fate was sealed. She began to collect her belongings in a trash bag. Tomorrow will be moving day again. "Myah!" called her social worker, Mr. Thomas. Myah looked up to a red-faced Mr. Thomas. "I'm listening," Myah stated. Mr. Thomas proceeded, "Legally, we can emancipate you because you are 17. I think this is the best option because, so far, attempts to place you have all ended in disaster. I can arrange for you to live in an apartment and cover your rent for the first six months. I can give you a voucher for food for next month. You will need to attend school and likely secure a job. Myah, you will pretty much be on your own. I know it doesn't sound good, but I can not think of any other solution. You will have all the rights of an 18-year-old." Myah sighed; it seemed like her dream of having a forever family was never going to come true. Myah stated, "Okay, Mr. Thomas, I will take the emancipation. I've practically been on my own for years anyway. By the way, thank you for asking me if I was okay after being assaulted in my sleep, on my birthday of all days." Mr. Thomas hung his head in shame. They proceeded with the paperwork, and Myah was given the keys to her new apartment. She left the office feeling somewhat hopeful about what was to come.