Devon sat up in bed and switched off her ringing alarm in annoyance. She got out of bed, dragging her limbs towards the bathroom. She halted at the entrance of the bathroom when she realized what day it was.
"Happy tenth birthday to me" she muttered before walking into the bathroom. As she brushed her teeth, she heartily hummed to herself. Half an hour later, she was stepping out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her wet body.
She got dressed in her uniform and went downstairs to have her breakfast.
"Happy birthday, sweetie" her mum said, embracing her. "Happy birthday, pumpkin" Her father said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Devon smiled and settled down to have her breakfast.
Just as she brought the pancake to her lips, she heard the door bell ring.
The maid went to answer the door and returned shortly with a big birthday present. Devon's blue eyes went wide.
"Where did you find that?" Mr Bradley asked, fixing his tie. "I found it on the floor just outside the porch"
"Did you see the person who put it there?" Mrs Bradley asked, alarmed.
"No, ma'am. There was no one there"
"Is there a note attached to it?" Mr Bradley asked.
Devon straightened, interested in knowing what was in the box.
"There's a note. It says, 'I hope you'll like this gift, Dev. Happy tenth birthday....." The maid paused.
"What is it?" Mr& Mrs Bradley echoed.
"It says, 'from Black'"
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Open the box" Mr Bradley said to the maid who hesitated before doing so. They were shocked when the maid took out a pair of glittery pink boots that looked rather expensive. Devon gasped.
Two days ago, she'd made a wish on a shooting star. She'd wished for a pair of shiny pink boots.
"There's something else in the box" the maid said, taking out a golden pendant. It's glittery head was shaped like an arrow in a bow. It's beautiful, she thought.
Her parents looked displeased. The maid was ordered to dump the gifts in the storage room where it would be disposed of, later.
Unknown to them, Devon had other plans. She sneaked to the storage room without her parents noticing. Then, she grabbed the pendant and hid it in her room.
"Where were you?" Her mum asked.
"I had to use the bathroom"
"Fine, come on let's get to the car. You're running late"
As they got into the car, Devon saw a pair of golden cat-like eyes staring at her from the garden. She blinked. The pair of eyes were gone. Perhaps, she'd imagined it.
She thought about her new pendant. Certainly, this would be her best birthday ever.....
Both mother and child were unaware of the pair of golden eyes watching them from the garden, keenly.